The Royal Greenwich Planning Board will be considering the future development of the Royal Arsenal on Thursday next week, having ploughed through one hundred and thirty two pages which contains all the information necessary. While I will be going along to offer a view in the hope that Members will reconsider the proposals I am not holding my breath. Planning Board colleagues have a specific and defined role operating in a quasi-judicial role. However I do believe that simply looking at a proposed development without considering the wider benefits to Woolwich and the Borough as a whole is wrong. Until planning decisions are left to local councils to determine without looking over their shoulders the needs and aspirations of local people will not be addressed.
I was recently impressed by a powerful piece by Darryl on the 853 Blog highlighting the issues in the Greenwich Peninsula. Sadly in both cases the interests of shareholders override any regard for the housing needs of the community or the local environment. When the developer acquired the Arsenal sit,e the negotiating opportunity was limited. Indeed the Kidbrooke development has seen 14% of homes purchased by investors. Each home sold to an investor is a home lost to the community nor will it help to relieve the local housing crisis.
This fact recognises the reality of the bedroom tax which has seen an addition £12b housing benefit going to the private sector. I was contacted last week by a Hong Kong investor who wanted me to engage in a piece of casework on behalf of his tenant in the Arsenal. None of these issues can be considered by the Planning Board next week.
The development of Crossrail clearly provides an incentive by the developer to maximise density on the site. What we now have, it seems, is not high density but super density. It is interesting to note that, as a consequence of the extension of the Jubilee Line, land values increased across the area by £12b. I suspect this will be exactly the case when Crossrail is completed and in operation.
The issue that the Planning Board can consider is the height of the Tower Blocks on the Waterfront . The proposals include buildings 13 to 21 storeys high, likely to block off the view of the Riverfront. They can consider the views of Sports England in respect of sports facilities for young people. Building on the Park which includes the skateboarding site is a disgrace if there is not a proposal for an alternative site. The needs of young people are of paramount importance. Providing some limited space across the site particularly for young children should not be accepted. Private communal and amenity space includes the Roof Terraces and Balconies.
Taking all these issues into consideration I feel a sense of regret that as one of the local Councillors my influence is limited. Residents in the Arsenal who bought their properties in good faith and those in social housing feel a sense of despair and are helpless to change or influence the decisions being taken. However the struggle to build a strong community motivated by the desire to improve the quality of the environment for their children will continue until those in power put residents at the heart of planning decisions.