Planning Permission Submitted to Regenerate South Thamesmead

Peabody has submitted plans to transform South Thamesmead in the London Borough of Bexley with £500m of investment, creating thousands of new homes, a vibrant new high street and improving the connection between South Thamesmead and Abbey Wood train station.

A total of four planning applications have been submitted to the London Borough of Bexley, as part of the borough's Abbey Wood and South Thamesmead Housing Zone. This includes a detailed planning application for Southmere Village which would see more than 500 new homes being built, as well as a new library, shop units which could offer cafes, retail and local enterprises, a new lakeside square and space for outdoor activities.

Also submitted are three outline planning applications for Binsey Walk, Coralline Walk and Sedgemere Road which would offer around 1,000 new homes, landscaped areas, a central square, a public plaza, community gardens, cafes, offices, a new pedestrian route and community and creative spaces which would create a number of new jobs.

The Housing Zone development - a partnership between Peabody and the London Borough of Bexley - will be built in four phases, with Phase 1 (the Civic Quarter) due to commence in early 2017, subject to planning approval, and the final phase completing in 2024. It comprises a broad range of homes, from one-bedroom to four bedroom townhouses, providing a residential mix across all tenures.

Peabody's Chief Executive, Stephen Howlett said: “Thamesmead is a special part of London with huge potential for the future. The creation of 1,500 new homes and a new high street as part of the Abbey Wood and South Thamesmead Housing Zone, together with the arrival of Crossrail means we also have the opportunity to create hundreds of new jobs and attract new business. Peabody is committed to working with local residents to create the dynamic and thriving place where people aspire to live, work and visit.”

“We are particularly excited about the design quality of our proposals, and are proud that the plans have evolved from extensive conversations with people who live in South Thamesmead over the last 2 years.” Erith and Thamesmead MP, Teresa Pearce: “There are great opportunities coming for Abbey Wood and Thamesmead with the arrival of Crossrail and significant investment in the area.

“It is important that any new development works for local people, and I urge all local residents to look at the proposals and have their way by taking part in the consultation.”

The plans complement separate proposals, currently being consulted on by Peabody, to replace some tower blocks and houses in the Wolvercote Road area of the town. Residents in these homes will be offered a home in the new Housing Zone homes on the same tenure.

The development on Harrow Manor Way is part of the Abbey Wood and South Thamesmead Housing Zone in partnership with the London Borough of Bexley. This is the first of two Housing Zones in Thamesmead to be submitted for planning approval. The other is in partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, both will be delivered by Peabody with more than £47.5m funding from the Greater London Authority. The first planning application to the Royal Borough of Greenwich is planned for the summer.

The two Housing Zones will deliver nearly 3,000 new homes to rent and buy as well as creating thousands of jobs for Londoners. The housing zone bids were led by the London Borough of Bexley and Royal Borough of Greenwich in partnership with Peabody, and will support their on-going work to transform the areas of Abbey Wood, Plumstead and Thamesmead by improving the environment and boosting the numbers of new homes and jobs in their boroughs.