Thursday 6 October 2022

Community gardening on Saturday, October 8th

Please join us on Saturday, October 8th at 2pm. We will meet at the planter on the Play Street.

Wednesday 5 October 2022

Redevelopment of Greenwich Magistrates Court

You will hopefully have received a copy of the attached document directly, outlining an update on the the current planning application for the redevelopment and refurbishment of the former Greenwich Magistrates Court. (Click here to see the document.)

The document highlights the existing consented scheme and then goes on to highlight the proposed amendments that will be made through a Section 73 planning application. (A section 73 enables planning permission to be granted on the same development as previously authorised by an earlier planning permission, but subject to different conditions - it doesn’t enable permission to be granted on a different development) 

The salient points to note on the new proposal are; 

  1. They are no longer planning for the second basement level which will minimise disturbance from construction and excavation and should be less time consuming. 
  2. Heights of the 4 taller buildings immediately behind the magistrates court are increasing - notable for residents in the Toolworks and Charter Buildings on Catherine Grove and on Burgos Grove and the neighbours along Greenwich High Road. 
  3. The elevation along Greenwich High Road will also be taller and more imposing for pedestrians. As a result of the increase in height they planning to squeeze in additional floors to each building which will increase the number of rooms from the previously consented 293 rooms to 349. 

Given the increase in rooms and consolidation of the sizes and heights the end operator is questionable at this time. The smaller rooms are less likely to be of a higher quality brand. 

What is not shown but has been discussed with our Planning Representative is that more of the court building is being retained. 

Overall much of the consented scheme is being retained but please do familiarise yourself with the plans and any comments ahead of the planning application being made can be sent directly to info@greenwichmagistratescourt.co.uk and please copy in our Planning Representative on ata.planningteam@gmail.com so that we can keep on top of concerns and make the necessary representations.