Partners celebrate rapid progress in regeneration of West Thamesmead

Senior leaders from the Greater London Authority, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Peabody and Berkeley were in Thamesmead last week to celebrate the transformation of a derelict industrial site into a low carbon mixed-use neighbourhood.

Published: 19/10/2023

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The partners are working together to regenerate the 17-acre West Thamesmead site, which was once the home of Arsenal Football Club. The first phase is now in delivery and that entire masterplan includes 1,913 homes, 765 of which (40%) will be affordable, a new public park, nursey, café and shops.

The new homes will be powered by low carbon ground source heat pumps and the landscape design will deliver a biodiversity net gain of more than 40%.

A total of 47,000 square feet of high quality employment, industrial and community space is being delivered to support the area’s economic revival and bring more jobs and opportunities to the area.

The event saw Deputy Mayor of London for Housing & Residential Development, Tom Copley, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Cllr Anthony Okereke, Chief Executive of Berkeley Group, Rob Perrins, and senior representatives from Peabody, including John Lewis, Executive Director for Thamesmead, inspect progress across the site and bury a time capsule in Garden Square, which will become a new public open space.

Lombard Square is the largest development to come forward in the Thamesmead and Abbey Wood Opportunity Area to date, and the first homes will be complete in 2025.  

John Lewis, Peabody’s Executive Director, Thamesmead, said: “We’re already building thousands of homes in South Thamesmead, across a seven-phase masterplan, and Lombard Square promises to be a fantastic, new neighbourhood that will provide even more affordable homes and facilities in the west part of the town.

“With the possibility of a much-needed extension to the DLR also being considered by TfL, we and our partners have big ambitions for Thamesmead. It’s perfectly placed to relieve London’s growing housing pressures and boost the national economy by connecting lower-cost homes to the job hotspots of central London and the docklands.

“Lombard Square will unlock even more of Thamesmead’s potential, so it’s exciting to see such progress on site, and we look forward to welcoming new residents and businesses in the not-too-distant future.”

Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich said: “I’m pleased to see the development of Lombard Square progressing well, offering much-needed low carbon housing, including affordable homes and high quality green space.

“We’re working with Newham Council, TfL and a group of local stakeholders to campaign for the extension of the DLR to Thamesmead, which would enable the delivery of more high quality housing. Thamesmead is an ambitious, growing community and DLR would transform the area, just like the Elizabeth line has done for Woolwich and Abbey Wood.”

Karl Whiteman, Divisional Managing Director at Berkeley Group said: “Lombard Square is a hugely ambitious regeneration project and will be a force for positive change in Thamesmead for many years to come.   

“We’re proud to be working in partnership with the GLA, Royal Borough of Greenwich and Peabody to unlock the huge growth potential of the Thamesmead and Abbey Wood Opportunity Area and deliver the low carbon homes Londoners need.”