Many residents don’t want to see the iconic local military facility redeveloped at all, particularly into housing.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) earmarked the barracks for disposal in 2016 when it deemed the facility no longer fit for purpose.
Greenwich Council has worked alongside the MOD to produce plans to redevelop the site for civilian residential use.
A full planning application is yet to be submitted, but the council has agreed to consult publicly on its updated barracks plans.
Council documents state: “The Royal Borough of Greenwich wants to ensure that if the site is redeveloped, it is managed in a sustainable way, which provides new homes and other supporting uses whilst also protecting the site’s valuable heritage buildings and making a positive contribution to the character of the site and surrounding area.”
Earlier this year, the council launched a consultation on the barracks proposal which received just over 750 responses.
Some respondents did not want to see the barracks changed at all, and instead called for them to remain in military use “particularly given the current political and economic climate and current affairs”.
As the site is owned by the MOD, the council has no authority over when or how the ministry chooses to sell it.
Greenwich Council does recognise the site’s “significant military heritage and its importance in shaping the identity of the local community” and its military connection won’t be lost in the 1,920 home proposals.
The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery will remain at Woolwich, subject to a separate planning application ensuring the ceremonial unit has a suitable home on the barracks site.
According to the council’s consultation, there was “strong opposition” to new housing, with many feeling there was already an oversupply of housing in Woolwich.
The usual concerns about affordability, overdevelopment and strain on public infrastructure were mentioned.
Greenwich Council said it was not currently achieving its target set down in the London Plan of building 2,824 new homes a year, and redeveloping the barracks would help the authority to hit that housing target.
The council also said that because the site is publicly owned, 50 per cent of the new housing must be affordable, equating to 960 units.
In response to concerns about the potential pressure on public infrastructure due to an influx of new residents, Greenwich Council will submit an infrastructure delivery plan as part of the proposal which will identify if more schools and healthcare facilities are needed.
Alongside the 1,920 homes, the council also wants the site redevelopment to create around 4,500sqm of commercial floorspace to support the residential provision.
Consultation respondents also demonstrated a “strong desire to preserve, enhance, and celebrate the site’s military and architectural heritage” with suggestions ranging from retaining the existing buildings and converting them into a gallery or museum, to relocating Greenwich Archives to the barracks site.
The council welcomed the inclusion of “small-scale leisure or cultural facilities that celebrate the site’s history” within the new plans in response to the feedback.
The notion to relocate the archives to the repurposed military facility was shot down by the council, as the work needed to accommodate the historical documents and artifacts “would likely cause significant harm to the listed building” of the barracks.
The council also confirmed it had no plans to build on the parade ground, instead wanting to enhance the open space for community use.
The proposal would also see the full frontage of the main barracks building retained, something desired by residents.
