1962-today

1962-1985

In the 1960s the Ministry of Defence decided to abandon the Royal Arsenal and the Government released the land for housing. A team of planners, surveyors and architects was formed at County Hall and work began on building Thamesmead in 1967 with the construction of the architecturally exciting buildings running alongside Harrow Manor Way (Coralline Walk and Binsey Walk).

The first family, the Gooches, moved into their ‘luxury, three-bedroomed maisonette' in Coralline Walk in June 1968 to much fanfare and publicity. But problems, notably ‘rain penetration', had already been encountered with the new housing (even in the show home!) and no more residents moved in until the following year.

Thamesmead was developed and managed by the GLC but in October 1985 a referendum was held to find out how local residents wanted Thamesmead to be run after the GLC was abolished in 1986. The majority decided they wanted Thamesmead Town to take on this task. A new private company was established, and a Board of Directors formed, nine of whom were locally elected people.

1986-1999

In March 1986 Thamesmead became the first residential estate in the country to be run by a private company, Thamesmead Town, controlled entirely by its own residents.

Thamesmead Town not only managed the residential development but also the commercial areas, open spaces, recreational facilities and industrial estates.

In 1999 this arrangement changed - Thamesmead Town was liquidated and Trust Thamesmead (community development), Tilfen Land (property development) and Gallions Housing Association (social housing) were set up and the assets distributed amongst them.

2000 & beyond

Joint ownership of Tilfen Land is shared between Gallions and Trust Thamesmead with both organisations receiving substantial dividends from the company for investment back into the community.

Thamesmead is at the heart of the Thames Gateway, the largest regeneration zone in Western Europe.