Plans to build two high-rise student tower blocks by Deptford Creek have been refused over fears they would negatively impact views from Greenwich Park and Maritime Greenwich.
Greenwich Council’s Planning Board first discussed the contentious proposal—which garnered 294 letters of support and 251 objections—on May 27, where it decided to defer its final decision until a site visit had been made by councillors.
Last night, the plans put forward by luxury student accommodation business YourTRIBE and development and investment company Redington Capital went before the Planning Board a second time, with councillors voting to turn it down following the visit.
The proposal sought to demolish three low-rise residential buildings in Greenwich Quay by Clarence Road and replace them with 17-storey and 13-storey student tower blocks that would provide 590 purpose-built student accommodation units.
Although cllr David Gardner recognised some of the potential benefits of the scheme at the meeting, such as the provision of student housing and plans to redevelop the creekfront, he was critical of many other aspects including the fact he didn’t think the proposal was sustainable or could be integrated into the local community.
He referred to the borough’s local plan and said the development site was not in an area that had been deemed suitable for tall buildings.
Cllr Gardner said: “I think it’s too high for that side of Creek Road. I am concerned about the impact on the views from the National Maritime Museum, One Tree Hill and Lover’s Walk, and I think those views are really important. They are part of what makes Greenwich.”
Cllr Gardner stated he did not think this application presented a “clear and present threat” to these views, but if the council kept “bending its policies” on tall buildings and granting permission to similar proposals, the cumulation of different high-rise blocks would “weaken the council’s case” if UNESCO were to review the world heritage status of Maritime Greenwich.
He thought the potential for putting this status at risk was sufficient grounds for the Planning Board to refuse the application.
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Cllr Olu Babatola said: “I’m still not convinced about the assembly point just in case there is a fire, god forbid.”
He was not “satisfied” with the current evacuation provision for the development, and was concerned there was already too much student accommodation in the area and there was “inadequate” road capacity on Clarence Road. He also thought the accommodation was “not really affordable” for students.
Cllr ‘Lade Hephzibah Olugbemi was “extremely concerned” about the potential for traffic problems, as well the scheme’s sustainability and environmental impact and its affordability, stating that only some “special few” students would be able to afford it.
She also criticised the high-rise nature of the development, and feared the area by Deptford Creek could become “overcrowded”.
Cllr Pat Greenwell was unable to attend the site visit because of health reasons, but she still shared her concerns with the Planning Board. She said: “It is a tall building, and again we are setting a precedent here. We are beginning to look like New York on the Thames.”
She didn’t feel that the single entrance and exit of Clarence Road would be enough to cope with the nearly 600 students living there. She didn’t think the turning circle area on Clarence Road was “adequate”.
Following deliberation, councillors voted to refuse the application on a number of grounds, including its height and massing and its impact on views from the nearby World Heritage Site.
