Thamesmead could finally become a new town – 60 years after work began

Thamesmead could finally be declared a new town – nearly six decades after the first residents moved into the area – in a boost for plans to build new homes and a Docklands Light Railway extension.

The government’s New Towns Taskforce has named Thamesmead as one of 12 areas that could be given the status to help meet its homebuilding targets. 

This means a development corporation could be set up to buy land and make planning decisions on the planned Thamesmead Waterfront development. Some 15,000 homes are planned for a 100-hectare plot of undeveloped land in Thamesmead, with an extension of the Docklands Light Railway from Beckton planned to serve the area.

The wider area of Thamesmead – built from 1966 onwards on marshland once owned by the Ministry of Defence – could also be included to kickstart the currently slow redevelopment of the area. 

The Peabody housing association, which took over Thamesmead a decade ago, has demolished some of the original blocks, where the first residents lived from 1968, and has built a new estate at Southmere. But it has made little progress elsewhere. It is currently in a dispute with residents and campaigners in the Lesnes Estate who are objecting to its redevelopment plans, while the new Lombard Square development in the far south, close to Plumstead station, has been led by Berkeley Homes. 

Peabody has teamed up with the developer LendLease for the Thamesmead Waterfront plan.

“While significant development took place in the Thamesmead area, the full vision including the Waterfront site was not realised,” the taskforce – which includes Nick Raynsford, the former Greenwich & Woolwich MP – said in its report. 

“The site presents an opportunity for a brand new riverside settlement that makes the most of the green and blue assets in the area. Through this opportunity, the original promise of the Thamesmead new town can be renewed – creating a modern, vibrant, waterfront community that benefits and reinvigorates wider east London [sic].”

Another 7,500 new homes could be built if the new-town designation extends across Thamesmead, the taskforce recommends. “The Thamesmead Waterfront site could be the core of a wider new town,” it says.

This could potentially mean one body taking charge of planning for  the whole area. Thamesmead and neighbouring Abbey Wood are split between Greenwich and Bexley, which have very different planning policies.

The DLR extension to serve Thamesmead Waterfront had looked in jeopardy after it was not included in the government’s spending review in June. But two weeks later it allocated some money for Transport for London to continue developing the scheme. A full business plan is expected soon for the line, which would terminate on what is currently the Cannon Retail Park.

“We know how much potential there is waiting to be unlocked in Thamesmead, and we’re thrilled the government also recognises what a key role it could play in delivering up to 15,000 new homes,” Majid Rahman, Greenwich’s cabinet member for planning, estate renewal and development. 

“The new town regeneration and potential rail link would create new jobs, new housing and boost business to an area that benefits from better transport links. 

“Thamesmead represents one of the largest regeneration areas in London and we will continue to work together with our partners the Greater London Authority, Transport for London, Peabody and Lendlease, to realise its full potential for existing and new communities.”

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