Ambitious plans for Woolwich Town Centre

Royal Arsenal residents can look forward to the revitalisation of Woolwich Town Centre, with ambitious plans in motion to transform the town into a high-calibre shopping and leisure destination.

Royal Arsenal is Berkeley Homes (Urban Living) Ltd’s flagship regeneration development in Woolwich, located within walking distance of the current shops and daily market. The development is already home to over 3,000 residents, with strong sales continuing at the current phase of homes, called The Armouries

An improved retail quarter in Woolwich is needed to meet the needs of the growing community, with approximately 1,200 additional properties proposed in the new Royal Arsenal Masterplan.

Purchasers thinking of buying at Royal Arsenal can look forward to a sustained programme of improvement over the next few years. Later this year will see work start on the rejuvenation of both Beresford Square and General Gordon Square. Cllr Peter Brooks, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, comments: “We are pleased to announce that over £6 million will be spent on improving both Beresford and General Gordon Squares, with an internationally renowned architect at the design helm. The squares will be totally transformed to provide proper focal points for Woolwich Town Centre, with landscaped areas and performance spaces.”

It has also been announced that the Tesco store planned for Woolwich, opening in 2010, will be an eco-store powered by solar panels and wind turbines. The flagship store will house a farmers’ market selling local produce and two childrens’ playgrounds.

Joining Tesco will be a brand new retail quarter at the far end of Woolwich’s main shopping thoroughfare. The Woolwich Triangle Scheme is a plan to remodel the Hare Street/Powis Street part of the town centre to create 300,000 square feet of new retail space, new car parking facilities and a 100-bed hotel. The retail space will include 50,000 square feet for an ‘anchor’ store.

Woolwich’s DLR station is due to open in early 2009 and this is also a large part of the town’s renaissance, with a number of retail opportunities linked with the station site. A new DLR information shop is now open in Powis Street. Likewise, the future Crossrail station on the Royal Arsenal development will create a new retail hub. More imminently, Powis Street will see a Starbucks open in July 2008 – a sure sign than an area’s kudos is rising.

Paul Vallone, Managing Director of Berkeley Homes (Urban Living) Ltd, comments: “Woolwich has been on an upward trend for some time now, with Royal Arsenal being one of the main catalysts for change. The plans to transform the town centre will be welcomed by current Royal Arsenal residents, and is a clear signal to prospective purchasers that Woolwich is an emerging town with great prospects. Interested parties should buy now while improvements are in the planning, as the long-term potential for growth is amazing.”

The Armouries is the latest phase at Royal Arsenal, comprising 436 new-build apartments, with a choice of studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Some of the three-bedroom apartments feature a sliding frosted glass wall that closes off the third bedroom from the living area. However, the wall can be retracted to enlarge the living space, creating an ‘L’ shaped open plan area ideal for people who like a more informal way of living.

As standard, the kitchens in The Armouries have fully integrated ovens, hobs and extractor hoods, fridge/freezers and dishwashers. All bathroom and en suites have chrome ladder-style heated towel rails every apartment benefits from audio-visual entrance security.

Royal Arsenal’s thriving community of over 3,000 residents enjoys a residents’ only gym, a Couture Food Hall, a Thames Clipper stop on site, a Streetcar-run car club, a 24-hour concierge facility, Wellington Park, and the prospect of a Young’s pub opening in Spring 2009. Next year will also see the opening of Woolwich’s DLR station, as well as Royal Assent for Crossrail in Summer 2009, with the new station to be located at Royal Arsenal.

Prices at The Armouries start from £250,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, from £300,000 for two-bedroom apartments and from £315,000 for three-bedroom apartments. For further information visit Royal-arsenal.co.uk.