A 31-storey block could tower over Deptford Bridge as part of plans for more than 900 homes on the old Lewisham College site – with nearly nine out of ten to be sold privately.

Plans have gone into both Greenwich and Lewisham councils for the development. Both authorities and the London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan would have to approve the plans, which straddles the borough border at Deptford Creek.

The developer, RER London, plans to open up the waterfront to the public and plans to have places to eat and drink. At present the site is off-limits, with Lewisham College having moved out last summer. Only some Goldsmiths University courses remain on the site, with a lease running until January 2027.

Four blocks would be built on the Lewisham side of the creek – including a 31-storey tower facing Deptford Broadway, an 11-storey block next to it, and blocks of 16 and 18 storeys on a “peninsula” jutting out into the creek by the Bird’s Nest pub, next to where houseboats are moored. These account for 597 homes.

Render of new buildings next to old mill and river
A 25-storey block would be built on the Greenwich side of the creek. Image: RER London/CZWG
People having coffee in a developer render
New retail outlets would be created along with a public square. Image: RER London/CZWG

There would be three blocks on the Greenwich side – two of 11 storeys and one of 25 storeys facing the creek. These would contain 306 homes. There will also be a single-storey block for commercial use and a public square beneath the historic Mumford’s Mill, which converted into housing some years back. 

But across the 903-home site, 89 per cent of the housing will be for private sale. Of the rest, just 33 homes will be for those on housing waiting lists – 23 in Lewisham and 10 in Greenwich. Another 23 will be for shared ownership – 15 in Lewisham and eight in Greenwich.

RER London argues that it cannot afford to provide any more “affordable” housing on the site, which also has the Docklands Light Railway running through it. RER is also hoping that the land’s status as a “windfall” site – neither borough has designated for housing – will tempt the two councils to approve the scheme at a time when boroughs are under pressure to approve more homes.

Big red-brick building
Lewisham College has stopped using the site, though some Goldsmiths courses remain. Image: The Greenwich Wire
Deptford basin boats
Boats are moored between the Bird’s Nest and the college site, and would have towers as their neighbours. Image: The Greenwich Wire

Early plans to demolish the old Greenwich Inn pub on Greenwich High Road for a vehicle access route into the site were abandoned after objections from both Greenwich Council and Transport for London, The Greenwich Wire understands. 

The development would join the 27-storey Distillery Tower on the other side of Deptford Bridge, which has dominated the area for more than a decade. A string of tall buildings have either been built or awaiting permission along both sides of the creek in the past decade.

More details can be found on the Greenwich Council planning website. 

An identical application has been submitted to Lewisham, but it has not yet been published on its planning website – however, it should appear in the coming days by searching for reference DC/25/139390 or the postcode SE8 4HH.

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