Plans to redevelop Woolwich Barracks when the army moves out will honour “our borough’s unique military history”, Greenwich Council’s leader has said – even though it has ruled out using the main building for the civic archive.
A consultation about the masterplan has now opened, with residents being asked for their views about what the council would like developers to do with the site.
The masterplan says that 1,920 homes could be built on the site, including converting the Grade II*-listed main building with its Georgian frontage, said to be one of the longest in Europe, into housing. There could also be shops, cafes, gyms, nurseries as well as other facilities.
Greenwich will also press for half of the housing to be “affordable”.
But the council has ruled out using the main building as a new base for Greenwich’s homeless heritage centre, which was forced out of the Royal Arsenal in 2018 to make way for Woolwich Works, saying it would be “inappropriate”.
The council reneged on a promise to return the heritage centre to Woolwich, and the borough’s archive has been based in a warehouse in Charlton since then, with limited access to researchers.
“While the suggestion to relocate Greenwich Archives to the Woolwich Barracks main building is acknowledged, the necessary special requirements and physical modifications to accommodate historical documents and artefacts would likely cause significant harm to the listed building,” council officers said in a report on public suggestions for what to do with the barracks. “As such, this proposal is considered inappropriate.”
Residents now have the chance to tell the council what they think about the masterplan in a council consultation that lasts until the end of November.
The barracks was the home of the Royal Artillery from 1776 to 2007, and a number of other units are still based in Woolwich. The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery would remain at its Napier Lines base, across Repository Road from the barracks, once the land is sold.
Anthony Okereke, the council leader, said: “Our borough’s unique military history is something we are rightly proud of. It is also why it is so vitally important that any development of the site is handled in a way that respects and honours its heritage.
“This draft masterplan, which I encourage our residents to look at and comment on, will mean that any future development of the site will not only be of the highest calibre but will also – and just as importantly – deliver much needed housing that will help our borough become more affordable.
“This development will represent a major opportunity for the right developer to celebrate the barracks site and ensure the sense of place it has brought for centuries is not lost.”
Majid Rahman, the cabinet member for planning “Make no mistake that this council is pro-development but first and foremost it is here to deliver for our residents, and delivering positive outcomes for them is paramount as well as being one of our key missions.
“Our guidance to prospective developers of the Woolwich Barracks site should ensure any development makes a positive contribution to local people while retaining the distinctive character and heritage of the site. By setting clear expectations on building height and construction materials, residents can be confident the site’s character will be respected.”
The consultation can be found on the Commonplace website.
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