The University of Greenwich has submitted its planning application for a new £76million development in Stockwell Street.
The proposals, designed by Heneghan Peng, include a new campus library, a School of Architecture & Construction and other facilities such as TV studios and editing suites.
The new buildings, which would be bring up to 1,800 additional students into Greenwich each week, would restore Stockwell Street's traditional curved street line with "an elegant glazed frontage opening onto a gallery, café and exhibition space" which would all be available to the public. "Living roofs" have been incorporated, which the University says will create "a haven for wildlife in the centre of the town."
The university's Vice-Chancellor, Baroness Blackstone, says: "We hope that people in Greenwich will be as excited by these plans as we are. The high quality design of the new university building will greatly enhance the town centre. With some facilities and services open to local people and organisations, it will add to the creative and cultural energy of Greenwich and benefit our wider community."
The former Village Market site had previously been ear-marked for a mixed use development but the University acquired the land last year. Most of the buildings have now been cleared although the 60s office block, John Humphries House, remains. The building was originally a pioneering purpose built computer centre, handling data processing for several Metropolitan boroughs.
The initial designs were exhibited by the University at an eight day consultation last July. When asked if feedback received through the consultation event had resulted in changes to the scheme, a spokesperson told Greenwich.co.uk that there had been a "a reduction of the building mass; in height and stepping it back away from the neighbours gardens" and also a "a relocation of service facilities."
Local residents and businesses will have another chance to examine the plans at a public exhibition from February 23rd to February 26 - click here for full details of times.
Is it me or have they pumped up the green and leafiness of the surrounding trees to distract from the overall greyness of the building plans? Nothing very inspiring in the design itself but that seems to be about par for the course with new buildings in Greenwich.