Plans to revive another long-derelict site in Woolwich have been submitted – this time with over 900 student rooms, 400 co-living spaces and 93 flats.

An old electricity works would also be refurbished as part of the plans. The building would be extended and have five storeys added to it.

The site at Macbean Street was once home to Woolwich Polytechnic School but has been derelict for 20 years.

Three years ago councillors rejected plans by Legal & General to build 595 rented flats in five blocks of up to 22 storeys, saying that the frontage onto Beresford Street would be overwhelming, especially with more tall blocks to come in the Royal Arsenal.

This scheme, called Electric Works, includes blocks of up to 23 storeys, but redesigned to set the tallest parts back from Beresford Street. Another parcel of land on Macbean Street has also been added to the scheme, giving the developers more room.

Macbean Street
The Macbean Street site has been derelict for more than 20 years. Image: The Greenwich Wire

The councillors also said there was not enough “affordable” housing in L&G’s rejected plans. 

The new developer, Re:Shape, hopes that including 62 social rented flats, as well as 24 flats and three townhouses for sale at a discount will help it leap that hurdle. These would be separate from the co-living and student homes, and a further four flats will be sold for profit.

Eighteen of the social-rented flats would have three bedrooms – a key demand from Greenwich’s councillors.

There will also be a new nursery, shops and offices, a new market pound, and the development will open up new routes between Powis Street and Beresford Street in land that has previously been off-limits to the public.

Overview of the development
The buildings are up to 23 storeys. PBSA is “purpose-built student housing”, “intermediate” means flats for discounted purchase. Powis Street is at the front of the image. Image: DLA Architecture/Re:shape via council documents

Keeping the old electric works will also be an attraction to councillors. The old Woolwich Council used to generate its own electricity and the works once led to an elaborate showroom on Powis Street, which also included lecture theatres where appliances could be demonstrated.

The showroom is now JD Sports while the electric works had previously been scheduled for demolition. If the plans go ahead, community groups and small businesses would be offered space in the building. 

DLA, the architecture firm, said in a submission to Greenwich Council that the plans would “create a new genuinely mixed residential community”. 

In total there would be 918 student rooms and 409 co-living spaces. Developers pay less in community infrastructure levies to Greenwich Council for student housing than they would for traditional housing. The council has previously said that it was unable to raise the levy, as has happened in other boroughs, because of a lack of evidence to justify it  – little student housing has been built in the borough in the past decade. 

But councillors have also said that building student rooms will also free up houses in the borough to be used for family homes rather than shared housing.

Render from Plumstead Road of new development with people and Elizabeth Line totem in front
The planned scheme as viewed from Plumstead Road. Image: Montagu Evans/Harvey Scott Vision/Re:Shape via council documents

Co-living spaces are also charged less than traditional flats.  These provide small ensuite rooms with shared facilities, and are largely aimed at young professionals priced out of traditional flats. A 487-room block was recently approved in Abbey Wood, while the new Lewisham Gateway development also has co-living spaces.

Re:Shape, which first unveiled its plans in February, also runs large co-living developments in Wembley and at Crossharbour on the Isle of Dogs. 

The Electric Works scheme is one of a number of major plans that could accelerate Woolwich’s transformation in the wake of the Elizabeth Line opening two years ago – bringing large numbers of younger people back to the area, decades after the closure of Greenwich University’s accommodation.

Render of new block on urban street
The scheme as viewed from Beresford Street. Plans have been submitted for more student housing at Riverside House, right, while the temporary park on the left has now been taken over for more Berkeley Homes blocks. Image: Montagu Evans/Harvey Scott Vision/Re:Shape via council documents

Only last week councillors gave the go-ahead for 485 co-living spaces at the old University of Greenwich campus off Wellington Street, much of which has also been unused for 20 years. 

A 14-storey student block is also under construction at the old Woolwich Catholic Club site. And another 332 student homes could be built at Riverside House, if plans are approved.Long-delayed plans for 801 homes at Woolwich Exchange – around the old Public Market  – could finally get under way next year, although existing businesses there have recently been told they can trade until at least the end of August.

Documents with more details about the Electric Works scheme are on the Greenwich Council planning website.

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