The Royal Borough of Greenwich, Greater London Authority (GLA) and Berkeley have agreed a funding deal that enables the council to purchase 156 new council homes across Royal Arsenal Riverside and Kidbrooke Village.
The new homes will be made available to people on the council's housing register from 2029 and form part of the pioneering Greenwich Builds programme, which is creating a total of 1,750 new social rent homes across the borough.
The agreement comes as the Government has committed to reinvigorating council housebuilding and demonstrates how major regeneration partnerships can make an immediate contribution to that ambition.
Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “This purchase of 156 council homes gives a further boost to our Greenwich Builds programme, which has now delivered over 1,000 new council homes across Royal Greenwich, including the largest new development of 100 per cent social housing in the country.
"Partnering with developers like Berkeley shows that we are unafraid to take the forward-thinking steps needed to unlock the potential not just for homes, but whole new neighbourhoods, offering a mix of tenures to suit people in all circumstances and at all stages of life.
"As well as pulling out all the stops to deliver new homes we are also spending £430m to transform our older council homes and estates, ensuring that housing old and new is fit for generations to come.”
Justin Tibaldi, Managing Director at Berkeley, said: “We are delighted to bring forward another 156 new council homes in the Royal Borough of Greenwich thanks to our long standing partnership with the council and GLA. The Government has set a clear ambition to get Britain building council homes again, and regeneration projects like Royal Arsenal Riverside and Kidbrooke Village can help deliver that ambition now.
“This is about working together to help Londoners get out of temporary accommodation and into a secure and welcoming home where they can put down roots. At a time when housing delivery across London is under enormous pressure, this shows what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work in partnership to get homes built.”
The council will purchase the 156 new homes using a combination of GLA grant funding and the council’s own resources, giving Berkeley the security to progress the build programme. They include a high proportion of family-sized properties, with 73 three-bedroom, 66 two-bedroom and 17 one-bedroom homes.
The homes already have full planning consent and will be provided within two of Greenwich’s largest regeneration projects.
Royal Arsenal Riverside
At Royal Arsenal Riverside, 90 council homes will be delivered within a nine-storey building alongside a newly created park. Designed by PRP Architects, the energy-efficient development includes rooftop solar panels and will be connected to a low-carbon heat network. These high-quality homes are expected to complete in 2029.
Royal Arsenal Riverside is an award-winning regeneration project built on a long-standing partnership between Berkeley and the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Together, the partners are transforming a former munitions manufacturing site into a historic part of Woolwich, and have already delivered 622 affordable homes across the site, alongside thousands of jobs, new public spaces, an Elizabeth Line Station and amenities for the wider community.
Kidbrooke Village
At Kidbrooke Village, a further 66 social rent homes will be delivered adjacent to the award-winning Cator Park, adding to 1,942 affordable homes being created as part of the regeneration of the former Ferrier Estate.
Completing in 2030, the new homes will be part of an eight-storey building designed by Cowen+Partners, with rooftop solar panels and a connection to the low-carbon heat network.
Kidbrooke Village is another award-winning regeneration partnership between Berkeley and the Royal Borough of Greenwich, transforming the former Ferrier Estate into a mixed and sustainable community. The regeneration has delivered 1,363 affordable homes to date, alongside new jobs, 86-acres of biodiverse parkland, a new train station and community amenities, including a new village centre.