Housing Minister and Royal Borough of Greenwich celebrate topping out at Greenwich Peninsula

• L&Q completed the structure of the tallest building at Prime Point, Greenwich, at 30 storeys
• the building will comprise 181 new homes, and on the whole, the scheme will deliver 476 new homes, 70% affordable
• this is built in-house by L&Q’s own construction division
• Minister for Housing Matthew Pennycook was in attendance, along with senior officials for the GLA, Royal Borough of Greenwich, L&Q and Knight Dragon

The team celebrating Prime Point topping out with banner, Greenwich Peninsula

Housing Minister and local Greenwich and Woolwich MP Matthew Pennycook attended a construction milestone event at L&Q’s site at Greenwich Peninsula.

He was joined by London’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, and Cllr Majid Rahman, Greenwich’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal and Development, who joined senior directors and the project team from L&Q to celebrate this significant milestone on the project.

The topping-out ceremony was hosted on the roof of the tallest building to be delivered on site at Prime Point. Comprising 181 new homes, of which 104 are shared ownership (affordable), Woodget Heights stands at 30 storeys high, next to Peakes Heights, at 22 storeys.

The development responds to the genuine housing need locally. Across the scheme, 476 new homes will be built and 70% of them will be affordable, split between London Affordable Rent (LAR), London Living Rent (LLR) and Shared Ownership.

All homes are designed to be tenure blind to ensure inclusivity, and the first residents are expected to move into the affordable homes by next year. Overall completion is expected in 2027.

The scheme, part of the wider Greenwich Peninsula masterplan, will also deliver over 3,000 sqm of playspace, amenity space and significant landscape and streetscape improvements to what was previously a brownfield site.

Group in hard hats at Prime Point construction site, Greenwich Peninsula

Tom Copley, the Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, said:

“This is a fantastic milestone in the development of Greenwich Peninsula, which is set to deliver 476 new high-quality homes – 70 per cent of which are genuinely affordable.

“Backed by funding from the Mayor of London, this ambitious scheme is a crucial step forward in our mission to build more of the homes and green spaces that Londoners need on underused brownfield land, ultimately creating thriving communities and attractive neighbourhoods as we work to build a better London for everyone.”

Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Group Chief Executive of L&Q, said:

“L&Q’s first home over 60 years ago was in Greenwich, so we are very proud to now reach this important milestone on our first own-build development in the Borough.

“We are grateful for the support from our partners at the GLA and Royal Borough of Greenwich as we continue to play our part in tackling the housing crisis locally. At L&Q, our mission is to create neighbourhoods that everyone can be proud of and I look forward to welcoming our first residents next year into this growing community.”

Cllr Majid Rahman, Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal and Development, said:

“This topping out marks yet another significant step towards more high-quality affordable homes being delivered in the borough. It's one of our Greenwich missions to ensure that residents live in affordable, safe and secure homes, and new developments like this go a long way to ensuring our borough realises the growth it needs.

"This scheme will also deliver a mix of tenures which is much needed and recognises the different needs of residents. I look forward to when residents start to move in next year and can then call Greenwich Peninsula home."

L&Q’s first home was in Greenwich, and the housing association has over ten years’ experience providing and managing affordable homes at Greenwich Peninsula.

However, this is L&Q’s first plot in the borough delivered through its in-house construction arm, L&Q being the only housing association in London with this kind of structure and capabilities.

Greenwich Peninsula is an ambitious scheme aiming to deliver more than 17,000 new homes on 150 acres of previously brownfield land.

The masterplan is being developed by Knight Dragon, who originally acquired the site in 2013.

Matt Hawkins from Knight Dragon said:

“This milestone is another to be celebrated at Greenwich Peninsula, with new homes being completed at pace to deliver the stock that London desperately needs. Our partnership with L&Q has unlocked the acceleration of affordable homes across the Peninsula and will bring more people to live in what is already a thriving and culturally rich riverside destination.”