Plan for 27-storey ‘flat iron’ tower will mar Woolwich town centre, say campaigners

A “Flat Iron”-style skyscraper proposed for Woolwich could overwhelm its town centre, say planning experts and campaigners fighting a scheme for 800 new homes.

Developer Meyer Homes designed the 27-storey tower as the centrepiece of a blueprint to transform the area. But Greenwich planning officers have described it as “incongruous”.

Councillors have been urged to reject the latest phase, which also comprises three blocks between nine and 16 storeys tall, after 224 people objected.

Officials say the tower would have an “unbalanced and dominant relationship” with the setting of the Grade II*-listed Royal Artillery Barracks and other listed buildings.

Officers also criticised a failure to provide enough affordable and social housing. Local Labour MP Matthew Pennycook said the development would “encroach” on the public realm of Woolwich town centre. Neighbours called the scheme too dense and feared it would add too much demand for parking spaces.

The tower would include 206 flats — all for private sale — with 1,056 sq m of commercial space. The three other buildings would include 598 flats.

Meyer Homes offered to provide 52 of the flats at “intermediate or shared ownership”, and 134 flats at “London affordable rents” — set by Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The application constitutes the final two stages of the Woolwich Central Masterplan, which was given outline planning permission in 2007.

Meyer Homes, which bought the land in 2015, said the towers would “bring the focus in Woolwich back to the town centre” and complement developments on the river. It said the “modern, energy-efficient” homes would enhance brownfield sites.

It added that Historic England had reviewed the application and found the proposals caused less than substantial harm to the listed buildings.

It said the firm was offering 40 per cent affordable housing with grant support from the GLA. Planners were deciding the proposal today, but officers have recommended it be rejected.