New plans for the historic Furlongs garage in Woolwich have emerged that would keep the art deco workshop building in place alongside a new 23-storey tower block.

Proposals first emerged six years ago to sweep away the whole site at Mortgramit Square, a characterful alley between Powis Street and Woolwich High Street, and build two towers. It is behind the old Co-op department store, transformed into flats eight years ago. 

The original Mortgramit Square project ground to a halt after City Hall warned that its “affordable” rent levels were too high. Two years ago Greenwich Council placed a local listing on the workshop with its distinctive “Furlongs” lettering – which faces Woolwich High Street and the river – as well as its showroom on Powis Street.

Now the new plans envisage one 23-storey tower in front of the workshop and the demolition of the showroom and neighbouring shops – all of which have been empty for some years – for a large block of flats. A footbridge and Furlongs’ secondary workshop, which are also both locally listed, would also go.

Furlongs garage
The Furlongs complex was erected just before the Second World War. Image: The Greenwich Wire

The development would contain 249 “build to rent” flats, with “potential for 15 to 17 per cent ‘affordable’ housing”. It is unclear in this context what “affordable” means: this could mean some rents being up to 80 per cent of market rates rather than homes for people on Greenwich’s 28,000-strong waiting list, although the developer, Danescroft, could make a more generous offer. 

Some limited details were shown to neighbours at a consultation event earlier this week, although one attendee told The Greenwich Wire that only a handful of people visited, with staff outnumbering  members of the public by three to one. 

Render of Mortgramit Square scheme
Buildings on Powis Street such as the Furlongs showroom would be swept away. Image: Cratus Communications

Built just before World War II, Furlongs is “an example of 1930s Streamline Moderne design for the automotive industry”, a council heritage assessment says, adding that it complements the nearby Granada cinema – now a church – which is Grade II* listed.

It is an “important surviving monument to the newly burgeoning car industry and to Furlongs, a historic Woolwich-based firm since 1812”, it continues. “The three buildings on the site retain original fabric and features which signify the building’s original function.”

Furlongs showroom
The former showroom on Powis Street was also locally listed. Image: Cratus Communications

Another adjacent building proposed for demolition, a former doctor’s surgery next to the old Granada cinema, would also go.

While a local listing does not carry the weight of an Historic England listing, it still has to be considered in local planning applications, and the loss of much of the Furlongs site is likely to be a problem for some councillors – as well as the low “affordable” housing offer. 

A view of the planned development from Powis Street car park. Image: Cratus Communications

An outline of the scheme is available at mortgramitsquare.co.uk, where there is also an opportunity to send feedback.

Rather than being told about this by the developer’s agents, we were tipped off about this by a reader. Got a story? Drop us a line.