GLA to review Abbey Wood resi scheme

London’s deputy mayor Jules Pipe is to rule on a planning application for JMH Group’s 272-home scheme in Abbey Wood, SE2. Pipe will decide whether to override Greenwich Council’s refusal of the plans and approve the redevelopment at a public representation hearing on 7 December. London mayor Sadiq Khan called in the plans in September, after the planning committee unanimously voted to refuse consent for the scheme on Eynsham Drive in July. The mixed-use resi-led scheme proposed 95 affordable homes, equating to 35% affordable housing. The affordable provision includes 67 social-rent units and 28 intermediate units. The development comprises four buildings of up to 17 storeys, with 8,525 sq ft of flexible commercial floorspace. Greenwich Council said: “The proposed development represents overdevelopment of the site by reason of its density, height, scale and massing, and would fail to complement the character and appearance of the street scene area, and would cause less than substantial harm to the setting of Lesnes Abbey, which is a scheduled ancient monument and Grade II listed building.” In a letter to Greenwich Council on 21 September, Khan noted a “significant undersupply” in the local authority’s affordable housing provision. He said the development had the potential to make “an important contribution” towards meeting the affordable housing target. Between 2014-15 and 2016-17, Greenwich delivered 1,521 affordable homes, just over half its target of 2,788. JMH Group has since revised plans to increase the residential ground-floor frontage, with minor changes to the housing mix reducing the number of one-bedroom units, adding more three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes. GVA acted as planning consultant on the proposal. The scheme was designed by Assael  Architecture.     To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette