Plumstead is a step closer to having a brand new biodiverse public park after an agreement was sealed on plans for an ambitious new regeneration scheme, Lombard Square.
The planning application for the new 1,750-home development, being delivered by Berkeley in collaboration with Peabody and forming part of Peabody’s exciting wider regeneration of Thamesmead, received the backing of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in December 2020. Conditions of the planning permission (Section 106 agreement) were confirmed in May 2021. Berkeley and Peabody have now finalised the development agreement, meaning construction work can begin and the vision for this mixed-use development be realised.
Construction will begin early in 2022, with the first phase of new homes – encompassing both affordable and private homes – due to be completed in 2025. Berkeley recently launched a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes in Phase 1 of the development for sale. Further information on these new homes can be found at www.lombard-square.com.
The scheme is located on the vacant site near Plumstead Station in the Thamesmead and Abbey Wood Opportunity Area. It is centred around a new biodiverse park and play space which will almost equal the size of two Wembley Stadium football pitches, and create new natural habitats with green corridors – providing connectivity for local people, wildlife and plants.
Extensive local community consultation informed and shaped the final proposals, which meet local housing need to deliver affordable homes, provide new green space for the local community to enjoy and increase footfall for businesses on Plumstead High Street.
Lombard Square will deliver:
· A total of 1,750 high-quality new homes, 700 (40%) of which will be much needed affordable housing, including 429 London affordable rent and 271 shared ownership new homes. Half of the new homes in the first phase of work will be affordable housing, with priority being given to delivering those homes quickly
· A new, public two acre ‘Central Park’ (equivalent to the size of two Wembley football pitches) which will be the beating heart of the development. Landscaped green space across the development will create new habitats for wildlife and plants and create pedestrian-friendly links between the River Thames, Broadwater Green, Plumstead and Thamesmead
A 45% biodiversity net gain across the development. Berkeley and Peabody will plant new trees, hedges and wild flower meadows, while new ponds and grassland will attract more wildlife
· 57,000 sq ft of new flexible commercial and employment space, to meet a range of needs and budgets, creating new jobs and providing opportunities for local businesses. This will include flexible workspaces and encourage investment into the area
· New infrastructure to encourage sustainable forms of transport and integration into existing community, including footpath and cycle links to Plumstead High Street and Plumstead Station
· Upgrades around Plumstead Station to ensure an improved and safer environment. The site is also just a 15 minute walk from the new Woolwich Arsenal Crossrail station which will connect to Canary Wharf in just 7 minutes and Bond Street in 21 minutes

Karl Whiteman, Divisional Managing Director for Berkeley East Thames, said: “We’re extremely grateful to the local community for engaging with us and our partner Peabody to shape our vision for Lombard Square.
“It will be a real driver of change for Plumstead and Thamesmead. We’re taking unused and long vacant land and delivering homes, employment, retail and leisure opportunities alongside a stunning new biodiverse park which can be enjoyed by the whole community – something we hope everyone will be proud of and benefit from.
“Berkeley has had the privilege of working in The Royal Borough of Greenwich for over two decades and we remain committed to taking derelict, unloved land and turning it into exceptional spaces which improve the lives of those who live and work on and near to it.”
Matthew Foulis, Peabody’s Project Director for Thamesmead, said: “We are proud to be making a long-term commitment to Thamesmead; creating high-quality affordable homes, employment opportunities and investing in the green and blue spaces surrounding the area. Our regeneration will bring a wealth of benefits to the community in this part of London and transform the local landscape. We are delighted to be working closely with the local community and businesses to shape our vision and development proposals, and we look forward to partnering with Berkeley to deliver these new homes as part of our wider regeneration of Thamesmead.”
The Lombard Square site was once home to Arsenal Football Club, with the Manor Ground hosting Arsenal’s first ever Football League match in 1893. It was the club’s home ground for 20 years before they moved to Highbury in Islington. The site has been in industrial use for several decades and has been vacant and unused since 2016.
In 2017, Berkeley and Peabody partnered with an aspiration to bring the vacant site back to life and deliver an exciting new development which benefits the local community, reflects the council’s aspirations for the borough and delivers Peabody’s commitment to Thamesmead.
Both organisations have extensive experience in delivering well-designed, dynamic places to live, work and play that benefit residents and the wider community. Over the past 20 years, Berkeley has created a new, vibrant destination at Royal Arsenal Riverside in Woolwich, with new homes, sensitively restored historic buildings and a wealth of retail, leisure and cultural spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy. Berkeley has also brought forward Kidbrooke Village, a transformation of the former Ferrier Estate into a sustainable new community built amongst 136 acres of parkland and open space, rich in plants and wildlife. Kidbrooke Village’s Cator Park recently won the prestigious Sir David Attenborough Award for Enhancing Biodiversity – a top industry accolade – at the Landscape Institute Awards.