Information from the Royal Borough of Greenwich for our residents
Major energy efficiency boost for over 1,000 Royal Greenwich council homes
More than 1,000 council homes in Royal Greenwich are set to become warmer, healthier and cheaper to run as part of a major three year, multi-million-pound programme to improve energy efficiency across the borough.
Through the Housing Our Greenwich programme, the council is investing over £50 million to upgrade eligible homes with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D or below.
The improvements will benefit a further 1,120 homes, helping them stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer, cutting energy bills and reducing carbon emissions.
The next phase of the programme was launched at the Charlton home of local resident Rosa Mayson, where recent upgrades including new windows, doors, patio fittings, and external wall and loft insulation have already made a noticeable difference.
Councillor Anthony Okereke, the Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “This investment is about more than just bricks and mortar for us – it’s about making sure that residents have warm, healthy, cheaper, safe and secure homes to live in for years to come.
“We’re delivering this as part of our Housing Our Greenwich ambition to upgrade our existing council homes to help residents lower their energy bills, reduce their carbon emissions and live more comfortably. It’s also a significant step towards meeting our commitment to become a carbon neutral borough.”
Homes that are part of the programme will benefit from upgrades like insulation in walls or roofs, new windows and doors or modern heating and hot water systems. Some of the external work will mean that residents will experience fewer draughts or cold spots and will be far less likely to experience issues with damp or mould.
Cllr Pat Slattery, Cabinet Member for Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness said: “These improvements will make a real difference to everyday life –warmer homes mean healthier lives, and we want as many eligible tenants as possible to benefit from these upgrades. It’s also a good way we can make sure we fix any other issues at the same time; that’s a better way of working for us but more importantly it will be better all round for tenants.”
Mrs Mayson, who has lived in her three-bed home for 30 years said: “It’s made a huge improvement. With the house being so much warmer now and the bills have gone down, you don’t need to put the heating on very much, maybe half an hour and the house is nice and warm. The wall insulation, the windows, the patio doors, the new front and back door, have made the house 5 degrees warmer. I’ve really noticed the difference in my bills because I’ve got a smart meter now and they’ve gone down quite a lot”
These upgrades will be delivered using £10.5 million funding from the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3.
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Issue: GLW451
FEBRUARY HALF TERM
Pick of the Week
by Evie Flynn
FREE
SPRING ‘CRAFTERNOONS’ AT WOOLWICH WORKS
Woolwich Works are hosting a series of free ‘Crafternoons’ for school age children, where they will be led through a range of nature-inspired crafts.
Monday 16 February: Paper tulips
Get hands-on with colourful paper to create cheerful tulips, a classic sign of spring. Using easy folding and paper construction techniques, make a bouquet to take home and brighten up any space.
Tuesday 17 February: Paper Chain Caterpillars
Build a colourful paper chain caterpillar as a nod to nature waking up and baby insects beginning to appear in spring. This activity supports fine motor skills and creativity as children join paper loops and personalise their caterpillar.
Wednesday 18 February: Sun Paper Plate Craft
Make a bright handprint sun on a paper plate to
celebrate longer days and warming light. This tactile craft helps young makers connect with seasonal change and colour.
Thursday 19 February: Tissue Paper
Butterflies Create delicate tissue paper butterflies full of colour and movement, perfect for marking the transition into spring. These creations can be displayed on walls, windows or hung as nature-inspired decorations.
Date: Monday 16 - Thursday 19 February
Time: Various sessions from 14:00 - 16:00 each day
Tickets: Book online at https://www.woolwich. works/events/spring-crafternoon-2026
Price: Free but donations are welcome
Location: The Fireworks Factory 11 No. 1 Street London SE18 6HD
FREE ACTIVITIES AT THE QUEEN’S HOUSE
The Queen’s House will be hosting free activities inspired by identity and friendship this February half term (Tuesday 17Friday 20 February) to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month. The historic house will be holding storytelling sessions and musical performances suitable for all ages and offering families the chance to explore the rest of the Queen’s House during the visit.
Character actors: Meet characters from history, all with their own fascinating stories to tell. Meet Mistress Babbington, in charge of running the Queen’s House following the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660. Or, follow Inspector Canvass to discover hidden clues in the paintings hanging in the galleries.
Date: Tuesday 17 - Friday 20 February
Time: Every day at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00
Storytelling sessions: Meet the Sea Person, a figurehead who is neither Mermaid nor Merman, but simply themselves. This sensory storytelling session will take children into an underwater world filled with storytelling and sea spray. It will explore how sea folk can look and feel
TAKE PART IN A PANCAKE RACE AT GREENWICH MARKET
Greenwich Market are hosting their yearly pancake race on Tuesday 17 February to mark Shrove Tuesday. The event is hosted by a pearly queen and is held to raise money for the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice. The first fifty people to book tickets via their Eventbrite will receive medals and goodie bags from Bonne Maman. The event is free but tickets are required. If you are not taking part, turn up between 12:00 and 14:00 to cheer the participants on.
Date: Tuesday 17 February
Time: 12:00 - 14:00
Tickets: Free,
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pancakerace-at-greenwich-market-tickets-1981163305779
Location: Greenwich Market (Fry’s Court area of the Market), London SE10 9HZ
however they choose and is a good way to learn about what it means to be yourself.
Date: Wednesday 18 February
Time: 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00
Drop-in craft sessions: In this crafting workshop, families can create bold blue beards and fearsome pirate hats using paper, pens and colourful decorations.
Date: Thursday 19 February and Friday 20 February
Time: 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00
Family trials:
Pick up a family trail kit to help you explore the Queen’s House galleries and discover objects that are hundereds of years old. The ‘Create’ family trail will encourage families to explore mark-making and prompt you to look closer at artwork, considering pose, landscape and symbolism.
Date: Everyday
Date: Tuesday 17 - Friday 20 February
Time: Various times
Tickets: Drop-in, no ticket required
Location: The Queen’s House. Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London, SE10 9NF
Big Bill is coming to Woolwich Works on Friday 20 February for a night of bold stand-up. The night is hosted by Bilal Rashid, one of London’s most exciting new comics. Each month, Bilal hosts a night of great comedy including an acclaimed headline act, plus a hand-picked line-up of special guests. These are some of the very best comedians in the country – with credits on flagship shows such as Live at the Apollo, QI, and Mock the Week. February’s line-up includes Andy Zapp, Terry Gargin and Ryan Cullen.
Suitable for ages 18+
Date: Friday 20 February
Time: 20:00 - 23:00
Tickets: £13.50, Book here: https://www.woolwich.works/events/big-billscomedy-night-february-2026
Location: The Fireworks Factory 11 No. 1 Street London SE18 6HD
Lunar New Celebrations at Royal Museums Greenwich
See in the Lunar New Year at Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) on Saturday 21 February and take part in a whole day of free workshops, talks and performances for all the family, writes Evie Flynn…
Also known as the spring festival, the Lunar New Year is one of the most significant celebrations across many Asian cultures and according to the zodiac calendar, 2026 will be the Year of the Horse.
The celebration focuses on family reunions, sharing traditional meals, giving red envelopes (to welcome good fortune) and lantern displays.
The National Maritime Museum has hosted Lunar New Year events for the past 20 years, giving visitors the chance to explore Asian objects in the RMG’s collections.
Date: Saturday 21 February
Tickets: Free entry, no tickets required
Location: National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF
Performances:
Lion Dances:
A traditional Lion Dance will open the Museum’s celebrations outside the Romney Road entrance.
More Lion Dances will take place throughout the day on the ‘East Colonnades’, which are the series of columns on the east side of the museum.
Lion Dances traditionally ward off bad spirits and welcome luck for the new year.
Time: Opening dance at 10:00 and further performances at 11:30, 12:30, 14:00 and 15:30.
Location: Romney Road entrance, then East Colonnades
Dance with the Chinese Women’s Association:
Enjoy a short performance of folk and fitness dancing from the Chinese Women’s Association, who are based in Woolwich.
Time: 11:45 and 13:45
Location: Ocean Map
Sounds of China:
A captivating live performance featuring traditional instruments will allow visitors to experience the soul of China through music. Instruments include the pipa, guzheng and dizi.
The musicians will expertly blend classical melodies with modern
arrangements in a one-of-a-kind cross-cultural soundscape.
Time: 13:00
Location: Ocean Map
Martial Arts Demonstration:
A demonstration of the two complementary branches of Chinese martial arts; the hard styles of external Kung Fu, and the softer contemplative method of Tai Chi.
Time: 14:30
Location: Ocean Map
Food:
Thai Fridays:
A street food truck, Thai Fridays, will be on site all day, giving visitors the chance to taste South East Asian cuisine.
They use local and organic ingredients to create authentic pad thai and curry.
Location: Outside the south side of the Queen’s House
Workshops and stalls:
Immerse yourself in a series of workshops traditional to Lunar New Year celebrations.
In the group space, there will be a fast-paced chopsticks challenge and a chance to try on traditional costumes from 10:00 - 16:00.
Head to the propeller space to examine Chinese musical instruments and write your wishes for the new year on a large Year of the Horse sculpture.
Location: Ocean Map
Lunar Objects in Focus:
A chance to meet astronomy experts and interact with a range of lunar objects, from globes and navigational instruments to real lunar meteorites.
Time: 11:00 - 16:00
Location: Figurehead Space
Lantern Making:
Chinese Fan workshop:
This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the practice of Chinese fan dancing, including its links to strength, inner power and resilience.
The session is an accessible and joyful opportunity to learn the expansive gestures and rhythmic movement that characterises the dance.
Time: 11:00 and 14:00
Location: Ocean Map
Lion Dance workshop: Rooted in traditional communal and ceremonial practices, this Tibetan dance workshop celebrates connection, rhythm, and shared joy.
Through circular steps and repeated movements, participants can experience how dance brings people together.
The session invites everyone to move as a group in a form of celebration to welcome harmony, and renewal into the new year.
Time: 12:30 and 15:00
Location: Ocean Map
Tai Chi Workshop:
Learn the ancient Chinese practice of Tai Chi and Qigong, which both combine slow and deliberate movements, meditation and breathing exercises.
Chew-Yeen Lawes, a Tai Chi specialist, will be guiding participants in a short and accessible session.
Time: 15:30
In this workshop, lecturers and students from Goldsmiths University will assist families in creating their own decorative paper lanterns to display for the new year.
Time: 11.00 – 16.00
Location: Learning Space
Calligraphy Stall: Chinese Calligraphy is the traditional art of writing characters using brush, ink, and paper. Discover the beauty of this craft and watch experts brush elegant Lunar New Year characters for you to take home.
Time: 11.00 – 16.00
Location: Sammy Ofer Wing
Red Envelope Making: Families will be able to make their own red envelopes, which symbolise good luck and blessings. Visitors can then go to the calligraphy stand to have the envelope inscribed with an auspicious message.
Time: 10.00 – 17.00
Location: Special Exhibitions Gallery Foyer
Talks and tours:
Character Encounter with James Robson: Explore the Traders gallery with James Robson, a Chinese lascar (sailor) who served on the fastest and greatest of the tea clippers, Cutty Sark.
You can find out about the struggles of the tea trade between Britain and China, and the impact of the 19th-century Opium Wars on both countries.
Times: 11.30, 12.30, 13.30, 14.30
Location: Traders Gallery
Gallery Favourites: Find out about fascinating objects from the collection that have East
and Southeast Asian connections.
The Museum’s gallery assistants will take visitors around the Traders gallery to talk about their favourite objects on display.
Times: 11.00, 13.00, 15.00
Location: Traders Gallery
Zodiac Puppet Show:
An interactive puppet show exploring the story of the Jade Emperor, the great race and how the Chinese years of the animals were decided.
Times: 11.00, 14.00
Location: Rethink Space
Legends in Sound Storytelling: Through live narration, music, and visual elements, watch as traditional Chinese folktales and legends are brought to life.
Times: 12.00, 14.30
Location: Lecture Theatre
Tea Ceremony: Chew-Yeen Lawes from Global Fusion Music and Arts demonstrates to visitors the mindful tea ceremony, suitable for ages 13 and over.
Time: 13.00
Location: Lecture Theatre
The Stories of Money in China
A talk exploring fascinating stories about money from a Chinese perspective - from the world’s first paper money to the distinctive traditions of China’s early banking system.
Time: 13.45
Location: Lecture Theatre
Stories We Cook, Homes We Make: Using illustration, Dr Carmen Yau will share a selection of signature dishes and explore Lunar New Year foods.
Carmen weaves her personal stories of home from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Japan, and Korea into her ongoing process of building a new home in the UK as a new immigrant.
Time: 14.30
Location: Rethink Space
Ultra-cheap basketball sessions for young people
The fully-coached sessions have been held in Woolwich Waves leisure centre in Greenwich, alongside other select leisure centres across five other London boroughs, since 2nd February.
They are open to 5-15 year olds of all abilities for just £1 per session.
Richard Gallagher, Partnership Manager for Better in Greenwich, which runs Woolwich Waves, said he was ‘excited’ to see how the programme unfolds.
He said: “In Greenwich, we’re committed to supporting young people to access affordable sporting activities. That’s why we’re so pleased to be working with the Mayor of London and the NBA to offer this opportunity.”
The roll-out of this programme constitutes the first stage of the ‘NBA Court Time’ scheme, which seeks to
help Londoners keep active at little cost, and is set to run until April.
The sessions are being held in collaboration with the London Coaches Program, which was launched in 2023, with adult, community group, and women-only sessions to also be on offer from March.
This comes as City Hall is investing £2 million to improve basketball facilities across the capital.
London is currently home to 500,000 active basketball players, with the team sport having become the second most popular among young people in the UK after football.
For more information go to Woolwich Waves website www.better.org.uk/ leisure-centre/london/greenwich/ woolwich-waves/basketball
Ultra-cheap basketball sessions are being offered to children and young people from south London, as part of a collaboration between the Greater London Authority and the NBA, writes Maya Sgaravato-Grant...
OPEN TO 5-15 YEAR OLDS OF ABILITIESALLFOR JUST £1 SESSIONPER
New Young Mayor with budget of £25K elected in Lewisham
Tyrese Gayle was elected the next Young Mayor of Lewisham on last week, with Izzy McDonald to take on the role of Deputy Young Mayor, writes Maya Sgaravato-Grant...
They will oversee a budget of £25,000, dedicated to improving the welfare of young people in the area.
Tyrese pledged to increase apprenticeships, mental health
support services and better lighting at crime hotspots in the borough.
While Izzy campaigned for more workshops for young entrepreneurs and creatives, plus improved workspaces and youth clubs.
The pair are set to serve in their new roles for a year after beating 40 other candidates in an election on Wednesday February 4, which saw 10,000 young people aged 11-17 in Lewisham cast their votes.
They will be responsible for acting as ambassadors for young people in the borough, for informing and advising the mayor on issues relating to young people, and for working with other young people to inform the work of
the mayor, council, among other decision-making bodies.
Having launched in 2004, Lewisham’s Young Mayor programme is the longest-running in the country.
The scheme seeks to give ordinary young people more influence over local decision-making processes, through initiatives such as Youth Forums, which brings young people together to share their thoughts on issues which affect them, and to
feed these back to the Young Mayor.
The Mayor of Lewisham, Brenda Dacres, offered a ‘huge congratulations’ to everyone who participated, and said she was ‘really looking forward’ to working with Tyrese and Izzy. She said: “The Young Mayor’s programme gives young people a say in the future of Lewisham and provides them with the opportunity to get involved in decision making and influence change locally.”
Vacant council land in Deptford could be used to help build around 550 Build to Rent homes
Lewisham Council has agreed to make some of its vacant land, which has been the subject of regeneration plans for over a decade, available for sale to a major insurance firm to build new social homes, writes Ruby Gregory, Local Democracy Reporter..
Last week (January 21) Cabinet members discussed a report outlining fresh proposals to sell a portion of its land, located at the south of Copperas Street which backs onto Deptford Creek, to Legal & General (L&G).
The plans form part of a wider regeneration scheme between L&G and developer Galliard, which owns the land directly next door. If the sale eventually goes through, L&G and Galliard can move forward with a scheme to deliver around 550 Build to Rent (BTR) homes across the combined sites.
Around 30 per cent of the homes, by habitable room, could be designated as affordable according to the latest estimates, and all of these would be built on the council-owned land within the wider site. All the affordable homes would be for social rent.
Cllr James-J Walsh, Lewisham Council’s Cabinet Member for
Inclusive Regeneration and Planning, said: “The land at south of Copperas Street has been identified for regeneration for over a decade.
“Previous delivery routes fell away, planning permissions were never used and the site has remained empty, delivering no homes and no value to the community.
“Doing nothing simply extends that failure. The proposal before full Cabinet allows a single comprehensive scheme to come forward across the wider site, delivering 550 new homes in a highly accessible location.”
Cllr Walsh explained that the land would only be sold once planning permission is granted, and as part of the agreement the council would take back a 250-year lease of a new ground-floor commercial unit. The council would also receive £250,000 in construction-period income and could potentially benefit from more money if the final planning permission is more valuable than currently assumed.
Cllr Walsh added: “This is a pragmatic, Labour approach to regeneration [which] unlocks stalled land, secures social rent homes, retains long-
term public assets and ensures that the public shares future value.”
Cabinet members went on to agree the report and approve of the disposal “in principle”, which is a provisional agreement before becoming legally binding and is subject to contract.
Cllr Amanda De Ryk said: “I just want to say well done, that’s really exciting news and to be able to deliver that many homes at social rent on our land is really, really exceptional work.”
SITE HISTORY: PLANS TO SELL OFF THE COUNCIL-OWNED LAND HAVE BEING GOING ON FOR A DECADE
The council-owned land was once home to a mix of office and industrial buildings which have now been demolished, with the council describing the site as being “cleared and ready for redevelopment”.
Plans to sell off the council-owned land first emerged in July 2015, when the then-Mayor and Cabinet agreed to sell it to developer Kitewood, subject to Kitewood later obtaining planning permission.
In November 2020, Lewisham Council
chose to grant planning permission for developer Kitewood and Galliard to build 393 homes in towers that would be 26 storeys and 30 storeys tall.
The site covered council-owned land as well as land owned by music and dance college Trinity Laban.
The plans also included a five storey building that would have designated performance space for Trinity Laban. The plans were subject to a joint Section 106 agreement between Lewisham Council, Trinity Laban, Kitewood and Galliard.
However, Trinity Laban didn’t sign the Section 106 agreement and the consented plans were never officially issued.
Since then, L&G has emerged as a BTR investor for the wider site and agreed commercial terms with Galliard for their adjoining land.
The latest proposals are a joint venture between L&G and Galliard which do not include Trinity Laban’s portion of land. All of the affordable housing would be built entirely on council-owned land, should the plans eventually be granted.
This CGI drawing is of the plans which date back to November 2020 and saw the council grant planning consent however, permission was never officially issued
AT
GREENWICH PENINSULA
Saturday 21 February 12pm - 5pm
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with Dragon & Lion Dances, art exhibitions, vibrant markets, DJs and a feast of cultural experiences. @greenwich.peninsula
The transport authority put out a tender on Monday (February 2) confirming the scope and timeline of the light railway line project, which was given the green light in November by the government after years of lobbying.
The work, which will see the current end point at Gallion’s Reach extended to two new stations – Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead – is seen as a crucial step to unlocking more housing in London, including the proposed Thamesmead waterfront New Town.
TfL’s tender says work on the project should start in 2028 and be completed by 2033. A TfL source said they would begin “early enabling works” in 2027 before main works start in 2028.
Bidders must be prepared to build two new stations, a 1.5km crossriver tunnel and a “new turnback siding to the west of the extension to facilitate a future uplift in services” on the route, according to documents released on Monday.
The successful contractor will carry out the work between March 1 next year and December 31, 2033. It is understood that previously, TfL had hoped to start the work by 2027 and finish as early as 2032.
The Greater London Authority (GLA) and TfL will borrow the vast majority of the money needed for the extension, with government financial support for the scheme still unknown.
The latest revelations have prompted some concern from the Mayor of London’s opponents on the London Assembly, who have taken aim at what they see as a lack of value for money.
The DLR extension will take seven years and cost
£1.62 billion
The DLR extension to Thamesmead is expected to cost £1.62billion to construct and take seven years to complete, Transport for London (TfL) has revealed, writes Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter...
Fay Hammond, the GLA’s Chief Finance Officer, told the London Assembly last month that the project will be far higher than the initial construction figure, due to borrowing costs becoming “significant over 30 years”
“The Government’s lack of confidence in Sadiq Khan is costing Londoners millions more,” Thomas Turrell, the
City Hall Conservatives’ transport spokesperson, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
“Instead of the government borrowing the money like they usually would for these important projects, they are making Sadiq Khan add it to TfL’s credit card, meaning it is Londoners who pay.
“Other Mayors have been able to secure government funding for big projects, but Sadiq Khan has failed to secure a penny for any of his transport priorities.
“If we are going to spend billions on a new rail line then we should also expect more than two stations.
“It is more cost effective and
efficient to do a full extension now. We should be more ambitious and bring the line all the way to Belvedere. This benefits even more of Thamesmead, unlocks even more housing and will bring new jobs and opportunities to South East London.”
Tory colleague Neil Garratt added: “Any new transport project is welcome in a city still relying on Victorian infrastructure. Sadly, where Britain once led the world, we’ve forgotten how to deliver. Our costs are double the European average, so the Mayor must grip spending and timelines from day one.
“Thamesmead deserves better than another decade of delays and another billion in overruns. Failure means the next project gets cancelled before it starts.”
The Mayor was also urged to continue lobbying for other major transport projects that London needs, including the Bakerloo Line extension and the new West London Orbital line.
Hina Bokhari, the Liberal Democrat group leader on the London Assembly, told the LDRS: “While it’s exciting to see the DLR extension finally get underway, the 2033 timeline is a sobering reminder of just how long major transport projects like this take.
“That’s why it’s a matter of urgency that the government stops dithering and delaying and gives the Bakerloo Line extension and West London Orbital the go ahead too. This government claims growth is its number one priority – so why isn’t it backing the London infrastructure that would unlock it?”
*Additional reporting by Ben Lynch.
Legal challenge in bid to stop Thamesmead estate demolition
Lesnes Estate in Thamesmead— famous for featuring in the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange —is set to be knocked down to make way for new homes.
Bexley Council rubber stamped the plans in December, and this will allow housing association Peabody to demolish the 1960s estate and build up to 1,950 new homes. However, Lesnes resident Adam Turk has lodged a claim for a judicial review of the decision.
Mr Turk is a social tenant who has lived on the estate since 2009. He has instructed the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) to lodge a claim against Bexley Council on his behalf, challenging the approval made by the council on December 23, 2025.
Mr Turk said: “It’s always the case that whenever we get these gentrification or regeneration schemes and programmes, it’s never for the benefit of the local people who are already there. We’re shoved out.”
Many Lesnes residents have already vacated the estate ahead of the demolition, but some have remained as they don’t want to leave the place they have called home for decades. Mr
A resident of an iconic brutalist estate in South East London has launched legal proceedings in the hope of halting his home’s demolition, writes Cameron Blackshaw, Local Democracy Reporter...
Turk said he and the other remaining Lesnes residents were “very hopeful and excited” about the proposition of the decision being overturned.
He said: “It doesn’t matter if we’re homeowners, leaseholders or social tenants. We’re all residents and we all just want to stay here.”
The claim hinges on the environmental impact the estate demolition will have, and how the planning documents accompanying the plans supposedly downplay the harmful effects of the demolition’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The environmental statement provided by Peabody recognises that the effects of the emissions arising from the new development will be “significant”, although they are also described as “minor adverse”.
The statement is assessed against Peabody’s illustrative masterplan, but the legal challenge argues this is unlawful as it should have been assessed against “the reasonable worst-case scenario of this outline permission”, a legal principle known as the ‘Rochdale envelope’ approach.
The environmental statement says the illustrative masterplan was used rather than the maximum scheme parameters because “it is not expected that the future form of the development will fully extend to the maximum building height and development zone footprint parameters” and thus, using the maximum parameters would “likely result in a substantial overestimation of the effects of the scheme on greenhouse gas emissions”.
Despite this, Mr Turk and PILC argue that by not employing the Rochdale envelope approach and
basing the greenhouse gas emission assessment on the illustrative masterplan, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations have been breached and Bexley’s planners were misled. The claim for the judicial review of the demolition approval decision was issued at the High Court on January 30. Mr Turk is awaiting a decision from a judge on whether to accept the review.
Saskia O’Hara from the Public Interest Law Centre said: “Across London, approximately 137 housing estates are marked for demolition. These projects generate substantial greenhouse gas emissions, calling into question our stated commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050.
“At a minimum, estate residents and the wider public are entitled to assurance that these emissions are accurately assessed, transparently documented,
and lawfully disclosed to the decisionmakers charged with determining whether demolition should proceed.
“This case exemplifies the point at which the displacement of established communities coincides with irreversible environmental harm and is therefore a matter of substantial public interest and concern, while directly challenging the assumption that demolition and rebuild is an appropriate or sustainable course of action to deliver housing.”
In response to the legal challenge, a Peabody spokesperson said: “We’re investing in communities in and around South Thamesmead, supporting people, improving public areas and providing much-needed new homes.
“The planned redevelopment of the Lesnes Estate will help us expand this work and create an even better place for local people to live. We’ll respond to legal enquiries around the planning application, and will continue to support residents during this period of transition.”
Bexley Council has said it cannot comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.
Piece work, runaway trucks and classic old British motorbikes
I thought I should do another episode of John Day’s reminiscences of his apprenticeship at the Royal Arsenal in the 1930s. This one will cover piecework; the Crossness Explosives Pier and then a lot about big bikes in the 1930s.
In my last episode I ended with a story of a man being paid for ‘piece work‘ . John then described what this meant. It was all very complicated and so I saved it up to include it in a new article where I would have more space.
‘Piece work’ was a system of payment where each job came with a card bearing the price that that job would earn. That price had been set by the ‘price fixer’, who was supposed to know exactly how long each job should take .... and inevitably set off a number of arguments. John explained that in the Arsensal there was a minimum wage that a workman was expected achieve based on the cumulative value of the
jobs he had done during the week and they should at least equal the minimum wage. If he consistently did not do so there was a fair chance of his “getting his cards”. I assume everyone knows what ‘getting their cards’ meant ... I’m sure in this day and age there’s a totally different system - it’s a long, long time since I last had the sack!
A reasonably skilled man could exceed the minimum and be paid for all the work he had done up to a set limit, which was about one and a half times the standard wage. A good man could exceed this and on Saturday mornings you would see men shuffling the week’s cards to get as near the
maximum as possible while leaving some cards for later weeks. This caused problems if a man left, as he could have cards for several weeks’ work which had never been done and the cards for it had never been counted.
Apprentices were not on piecework, though occasionally one of the older ones, on a repetitive job, would go on it to earn a little more money. If a man had an apprentice, adjustments were made for instructing time and for money earned for him by the apprentice. John commented “Most of the time it probably balanced out”.
John said that he could not remember if working ‘a closed week’ earned him overtime or a week off later. An apprentice’s wages in the first year was 12/-a week from which contributions for ‘unemployment’ – 10d. - and a friendly society contribution - 12d. - were deducted. As a result he received just under 11/- a week. There was a rise of 2/- at the end of the year and the wages went on up until, when he was 21, he got 63/- as a young journeyman - the union rate
[12/- is twelve shillings – about 60p. 10d. – 4 p. 12d. is 1 shilling - 5p. 11/is eleven shillings, 55p. 2/- is two shillings – 24p. 63/- is £3.15p.]
The friendly society membership was for sick and similar insurance and his stamped card had to be sent in every six months. He belonged to the Ancient Order of Foresters whose secretary was Brother Moss of Verdant Lane, Hither Green. The Foresters still very much exist with a big headquarters in Southampton and they date from the 1830s, set up to help workers ‘as they walked through the forest of life”.
John also gives descriptions of various areas within the Arsenal. One was a story of a visit to Crossness Explosives Pier. This was located on the River at the eastern end of the Arsenal in what is now East Thamesmead - Thamesbank Place is apparently on the site. It was a specialised facilty for loading ammunition and gunpowder from the nearby tumps - used as magazines. For more information and some pictures see https://www.royal-arsenal-history. com/royal-arsenal-piers.html
Sometimes John would visit the pier to accompany a specialist, Andy Clements. after a call about equipment needing attention. It meant a trip out to the eastern end of the Arsenal, often in the wet. They liaised with the ganger on the pier who he describes as ‘an excitable Maltese whose name was Cordelli’. Once there Andy would keep Cordelli talking while John surreptitiously moved the offending drum on the crane slightly. Then Andy would go up to the offending crane, wave his arms about and shout strange words whereupon the crane would begin to work again – Cordelli, he said, was ‘convinced Andy was practising some kind of magic’.
He also describesd ‘a near miss’ on that pier. A three-phase electric capstan was being installed and John had the job of wiring it up to its starter which was hung on the rear of a small wooden hut which straddled the rail tracks. Looking round the hut he saw a couple of railway trucks heading straight him. The inevitable happened, the trucks hit the hut which toppled over onto the starter and ‘everyone on the land side
Mary Mills
Thames path near site of explosives pier
HISTORY
of the pier thought I was underneath’. Happily he had nipped out of the way.
He then describes what he calls ‘The short lived Royal Arsenal Sports Association Motor Cycle Club’. This was in 1935 and I guess that many of you will be more interested in the bikes themselves rather than the people or the Arsenal. Happily John describes a number of the bikes which the members had and I’ve been looking them up on the net. It hasn’t always been easy to match up the information which John gives about the bikes with what I finding on the websites – but I’m happy to get corrected information and I’m sure there’s lots of you out there who will have it. I’ve also tried to find out what they asre worth today. There’s nothing like the big bikes. It’s been said they were too noisy and dripped oil – but wasn’t that the whole point?
He says the club began in the Electrical Shop with Bill Beresford who had ‘03 Norton’ which I can’t identify. Norton were of course the long established Birmingham company who in the 1930s were manufacturing motorcycles for the military and other official bodies in their thousands. I also note that in the 1930s their civilian machine was the
MY BOOKS – CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
By Dr Mary Mills
‘International’ with a strong reputation in professional motorcycle racing and described ‘ as evoking a golden age of motorcycling’. I also their post war reputation plus a short term ownership by Plumstead based AJS. Value today from £5,000 to £25,000 plus.
Then there was Bill Croft who ran the battery shop that charged and repaired all the dilly and other accumulators in the Arsenal. He had an Enfield Twin and side car’ Royal Enfield were a Redditch company also making machines in vast numbers. A1 search says “premium, high-performance luxury motorcycles often paired with sidecars.” Value today Today from £8,000 to £25,000 plus.
Percy Harris rewound small armatures and - it was said that he did more private vacuum cleaners than official motors. He had a 649cc vertical twin Triumph and sidecar, described elseswhere as ‘one of the most iconic engines in British motorcycling history’. Designed in 1931 as an overhead-valve parallel-twin motorcycle for the Coventry based British Triumph Engineering Company and designed primarily as a durable sidecar hauler. Value today - one is
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n THE GREENWICH RIVERSIDE – UPPER WATERGATE TO ANGERSTEIN. A siteby-site description of the Greenwich Riverside between Deptford to Charlton. This is not yet another description of Royal Greenwich but looks at riverside communities, industries and river workers – as well less known site histories. £15
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Meredith Smith – Merry Smith was in the drawing office. He was responsible for the heating in the about- to be- re-opened Nottingham Ordinance Factory. I was aware that the Arsenal had had various branches all around the country and I’d visited one In Scotland but I was unaware of this one on Nottingham. It seems to have employed many thousands. It had opened during the Great War but later the site had been closed and sold and was then repurchased in the 1930s when it seemed likely that the Second World War would happen. It’s now a trading estate dominated by the buildings of the Experian Company. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ ROF_Nottingham. Norton overhead valve motorcycles were introduced in 1922 and were iconic British singles and twins known for performance
Len Shum worked in the drawing office,. He had an Overhead valve Raleigh36 ‘iconic British machines., single-cylinder and later twins, renowned for racing success’ from the Nottingham manufacturer. However Raleigh had stopped production of motorcycles a year before this. Today
they sell at between £3,000 and £9,000.
Len Dent. He had a MAC Velocette described as ‘economical, unglamorous transport’ quality machines hand built by a small firm in Birmingham.
Value today £3,500 - £8,000.
Charles Day – John Day’s father who had a 1150 cc Brough Superior and sidecar- the Rolls Royce of motorcycles. This is a machine produced by the son of the original Brough manufacturer, Nottingham based Brough Superior – whose machines were almost all custom built.
Value today £45,000 - £400,000 (!!!)
Then there was John Day himself with a model 9 Sunbeam. Wolverhampton based Sunbeam was actually a subsidiary of ICI but in the 1930s was taken over by Plumste I ad based AJS. This 6493cc OHV singlecylinder British motorcycle produced from 1924 to 1939, was known for its high-quality construction. One currently for sale £6,785.
The club met on Sunday mornings at the Prince Imperial Monument facing the Royal Artillery Institution. I’m a bit confused by this and I can’t find
a reference to the Prince Imperial monuments on the Arsenal site. The Prince imperial was the son of French Napoleon III who lived in England in exile - the Prince was killed in 1879 in one of the Zulu wars. The Prince Imperial Monument is said to have been his statue which stood outside the Royal Academy buildings in Academy Road and since moved to Sandhurst.
I think where they actually met was in one of the two Riverside Guard houses on the Arsenal site where the Prince’s body is said to have rested after it was brought to England and before being taken for burial.
The motorcyclists went for runs round the Kent lanes or to a local motorcycle sporting event. They ran a road trial which entailed following route cards at a set speed, there being time checks at unknown points. John thought he would do quite well in this his first motorsport event, but “had I not thought I knew better than the organisers in how to get from a to b.”
The club only lasted a couple of years eventually joining up with the local group of the Civil Service Motoring Association.
Explosives pier shown on Arsenal plan
Norton 1930s @wikimedia commons
Royal Borough of Greenwich
Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (AS AMENDED)
Town & Country Planning (Development Management Procedure)(England) Order 2015
Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (AS AMENDED)
Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 (AS AMENDED)
Town & Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 (AS AMENDED)
Notice is hereby given that application(s) have been made to The Royal Borough of Greenwich in respect of the under mentioned premises/sites.
You can see the submissions and any plans at http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/planning.
If development proposals affect Conservation Areas and/or Statutorily Listed Buildings under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 (As Amended) this will be shown within the item below.
Anyone who wishes to comment on these applications should be made in writing to Development Planning within 21 days of the date of this notice.
Please quote the appropriate reference number.
Date: 11/2/2026
Victoria Geoghegan
Assistant Director - Planning and Building Control
List of Press Advertisements - 11/2/2026
Publicity for Planning Applications
Applicant: Grupo Mijael Alquimista Limited 25/2537/F
Site Address: 2 STOCKWELL STREET, GREENWICH, SE10 9JN
Development: Retrospective application for the external painting of the full facade of the building and all associated jobs. Change the name of the restaurant, painting the logo and to add flowers with pots on the top of the external facade (this application affects the setting of the locally listed 2 Stockwell Street).
Conservation Area: WEST GREENWICH
Applicant: Proun Architects 25/3050/F
Site Address: Land to side of 327 Rochester Way, London, SE9 6PG
Development: Demolition of the existing ancillary buildings and construction of 2 x 3bedroom 4-person semi detached houses with associated car parking, cycle parking, refuse storage and outdoor amenity space.
Applicant: Mrs McIntosh 25/3468/HD
Site Address: 66 BUSHMOOR CRESCENT, PLUMSTEAD, LONDON, SE18 3EF
Development: Proposed window replacement to front upstairs and downstairs (1 x bay, 1 x bedroom), rear upstairs and downstairs (2 x bathroom, 1 x bedroom, 1 x kitchen) and 1 x French Door in rear downstairs bay window (weight bearing). All frames uPVC with the exception of French Door in aluminium - all casements are white and front replacements contain square leads in fanlights.
Conservation Area: SHREWSBURY PARK ESTATE
Applicant: Blue Ocean Properties Development Ltd 26/0139/MA
Site Address: Land to the rear of 192 Burrage, London, SE18 7JU
Development: An application submitted under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 in connection with planning permission dated 14/04/2025 Ref: 25/0520/F for 'Demolition of existing outbuilding and construction of two-storey dwelling with associated landscaping, cycle parking and waste storage' to allow for variation of Condition 2 (drawings and plans) to allow an: Increase in roof height by 0.66m
Conservation Area: PLUMSTEAD COMMON
Applicant: Mr Gus Sidhu 26/0158/HD
Site Address: 21 CHRISTCHURCH WAY, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 9AJ
Development: Retrospective planning application for alterations including the replacement of an existing rear window with bi-folding doors, replacement of the side patio door, change of rear window and rooflight colour to anthracite grey, and alterations to the flat roof of the existing extension.
Conservation Area: EAST GREENWICH
Applicant: Mrs Laura Chinnery 26/0235/HD
Site Address: 1B VANBRUGH PARK ROAD, LONDON, SE3 7NH
Development: Replacement and addition of windows and doors along with installation of rooflights with associated works.
Conservation Area: BLACKHEATH
Applicant: Winifred Lawansan
26/0281/HD
Site Address: 42 PRINCE RUPERT ROAD, LONDON, SE9 1LS
Development: Replacement of front door, alterations to threshold and ramp installation with associated works.
Conservation Area: PROGRESS ESTATE
Publicity for Listed Building Consent.
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Chai 26/0187/L
Site Address: 18 BLACKHEATH PARK, LONDON, SE3 9RP
Development: Construction of a single storey side extension and two storey infill extension and associated fenestration; part re-configuration of the lower ground floor and extensions under part of the existing footprint as well as the part re-configuration of the second floor; conversion of the coach house into ancillary living accommodation, including a new roof and associated fenestration; refurbishment works to external facade and the existing windows, including the provision of a roof to match existing over the main body of the house; formation of a sunken terrace to the rear and associated landscaping; other associated alterations. (This application affects the Grade II listed No. 18 Blackheath Park in the Blackheath Park Conservation Area)
Conservation Area: BLACKHEATH PARK
Listed Building: Grade 2
Applicant: The Pointer School 26/0328/L
Site Address: 37 SHOOTERS HILL ROAD, BLACKHEATH, LONDON, SE3 7HS
Development: Replacement and refurbishment works to internal doors, to support educational use (Class F1).
Conservation Area: BLACKHEATH Listed Building: Grade 2
Publicity For Advertisements.
Applicant: Grupo Mijael Alquimista Limited 25/2538/A
Site Address: 2 STOCKWELL STREET, GREENWICH, SE10 9JN
Development: Retrospective application for the external painting of the full facade of the building and all associated jobs. Change the name of the restaurant, painting the logo and to add flowers with pots on the top of the external facade (this application affects the setting of the locally listed 2 Stockwell Street).
Conservation Area: WEST GREENWICH
STAY INFORMED ABOUT BUILDING PLANS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
It’s LGBTQ+ History Month!
It’s LGBTQ+ History Month and there is plenty to celebrate across Royal Greenwich.
Join free events taking place all month long in libraries and community spaces across the borough. From family friendly activities and creative craft socials to joyful storytelling sessions with Mama G, organisations across Royal Greenwich are showing support for the LGBTQ+ community.
The whole programme celebrates local LGBTQ+ culture, heritage and history, offering opportunities to learn, connect and take pride in the borough’s diverse communities. Some events include:
Monthly Queer Craft Social Thursday 26 February at 7pm to 9pm, £5 House of Denna, Woolwich, SE18 6ST
Help shape Royal Greenwich’s Evening and
Night-time Strategy
It is important that we can all enjoy vibrant, safe and inclusive public spaces after dark.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich is seeking people’s feedback about the borough’s busiest areas to help shape the Evening and Night-time Strategy.
The council wants to hear what people would like to see in Eltham, Greenwich and Woolwich between 6pm and 6am.
Your voice genuinely matters. Help create welcoming and accessible places that can be enjoyed by everyone: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/night-time-survey
Every day in school counts towards a child’s success
The Royal Borough of Greenwich is raising awareness of the importance of school attendance, and how it’s linked to young people’s academic success, wellbeing and future opportunities.
A relaxed, welcoming space for queer crafters and allies to connect, create, and share skills! Bring any handcraft - crochet, knitting, embroidery - and get creative together over a cuppa.
Fierce Queens: Unframed, Unstitched...Unapologetic! Friday 27 February, 7pm until 11pm, Adults £18 Queen’s House, Romney Road, SE10 9NF
Fierce Queens brings together performers and historians for an unforgettable night of queer liberation and LGBTQ+ representation.
See what’s on: royalgreenwich.gov.uk lgbtq-history-month
The “It all adds up” campaign promotes the life-changing benefits of school attendance and provides support and guidance to families needing help in getting their children to school.
If you’re a parent, carer or guardian, you play a key role in getting your child to school. We know that for some children attending school every day will be harder than for others.
Whatever the reason is for not attending, please let us know. We care, and we’re here to support you.
Visit: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/school-attendance-matters or email school-attendance-advisory@royalgreenwich.gov.uk