East Greenwich Neighbourhood Plan

At the 2025 EGRA AGM, we asked one big question: what kind of place should East Greenwich be in 10 years’ time?

It’s not just a thought experiment. We’re starting work on a Neighbourhood Plan – a legal document that will give local people a real say in how our area changes.

This article sets out what that means, what we heard from residents, and how to get involved.

Why a Neighbourhood Plan?

East Greenwich is under pressure.

Tower blocks keep going up. Infrastructure can’t keep pace. Bus routes are being cut, and green spaces are shrinking. Consultation often comes too late – or not at all.

Neighbourhood Plans are one of the few tools communities can use to push back. They have legal status in planning decisions and can be used to:

  • Limit building heights and densities

  • Protect green spaces and heritage assets

  • Set rules for design and layout

  • Push for local services on major sites

  • Influence what kind of housing gets built

They can also be used to support high street revival. New powers mean local councils can force landlords to let long-vacant shops – and with the right plan in place, we can make the case for using those powers on Trafalgar Road and Woolwich Road.

What residents told us

At the AGM, we ran five discussion groups. Here’s what came out of them.

1. Frustration with the basics

People feel shut out of decision-making.

There’s a clear gap between what gets built and what residents need – safe streets, clean public space, places to meet and spend time. Volunteering is strong, but too often unsupported.

The basics are being neglected. And that’s where trust breaks down.

2. A hopeful vision

Residents want change – but the right kind.

  • Safer streets for walking and cycling

  • Homes that are genuinely affordable

  • Green space that’s public, safe and well-kept

  • Buildings that are low carbon and low rise

  • A lasting, mixed community – not just investors or short-term renters

There’s appetite for long-term thinking. Not just growth, but liveability.

3. Smarter land use

Too much of what’s being built doesn’t feel like it’s for us.

  • Sites are developed in isolation, not as part of a neighbourhood

  • Planning is opaque and reactive

  • Industrial land is stuck in limbo or handled badly

  • Access to the river is being lost

People want sites to be used in ways that add public value – like small business spaces, shared workspaces, health centres, or homes people can stay in long-term.

A Neighbourhood Plan lets us set expectations for how land should be used – and what has to come with it.

4. Green space matters – but needs work

Greenwich’s parks and open spaces are a point of pride. But they’re also under threat.

Residents raised concerns about:

  • Poor lighting and safety after dark

  • Overflowing bins and fly-tipping

  • A lack of space for teenagers

  • Short-lived tree planting and poor upkeep

People suggested specific fixes – like linking spaces through green corridors, funding improvements via biodiversity net gain, and adding practical things like bins and benches.

The Neighbourhood Plan can help protect what we have and raise the bar for what comes next.

5. Local identity is fading

New developments don’t reflect East Greenwich.

  • Generic buildings with no link to the area

  • Out-of-place materials and colours

  • Views and historic routes being blocked

  • No recognition of the area’s maritime and industrial heritage

People want development that feels rooted – with design codes, height limits, heritage-led naming, and protection for important sightlines and paths.

This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about place. If everything looks the same, it stops mattering.

What we’ll do next

We’ll now use all this input to:

  • Draft local priorities for the Neighbourhood Plan

  • Set up a formal Neighbourhood Forum to lead the process

  • Work with the Council to push for change that’s visible, tangible, and aligned with what residents actually want

If you live or work in East Greenwich, you can be part of the Forum.

To get involved, email us at info@egra.london

Now’s the time to shape what comes next.

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