A couple living near historic Woolwich docks believes they enjoy the finest view in London, despite stalled development plans.
Woolwich: A couple living next to the historic Grade II listed docks in London thinks they have the best view in the city. They’re not too worried about the development plans that were approved ages ago but haven’t moved forward at all.
The Woolwich Dry Docks are right by the River Thames, looking out towards North Woolwich. It’s a pretty cool spot with a lot of history. The docks were originally set up way back in 1512 to build ships for King Henry VIII.
These docks were in use until 1869, and now they’re filled with water, while the old granite steps are overgrown with bushes. Derek Barker, who’s 88, has lived there with his wife Jean, 85, for over 20 years. He remembers when people could stroll around the docks before they were closed off.
Jean loves their home on the Thames and insists it has the best view in London. Derek shared some fascinating history, mentioning that ships like The Great Harry and The Beagle were built right there.
He even made a little pallet in the water for birds to nest on, which is pretty sweet. Back in 2012, Greenwich Council approved plans for a big 14-storey building with 100 flats between the docks, but nothing has happened since then.
The company behind the project has gone under, and it seems like the plans are just gathering dust. Derek noted that there was some initial work done, but it all just faded away.
The original plan included adding new lighting and improving the water quality in the docks, which used to be popular with fishing clubs. They even wanted to create a nice environment for fish and set up an angling club with a café and toilets.
Derek thinks the plans looked nice and would have made the area much better. He said it would be fantastic if they actually built those flats and improved the place with duck islands and lighting.
Recently, a business advisory firm mentioned that two of their staff are now handling the liquidation of the original company. The site is currently under the control of receivers, but there’s still no sign of any action.
A spokesperson said they’ve hired a security company to keep an eye on the site and do monthly inspections. They also filed a report about the liquidation process, but it seems like things are still pretty quiet.
They reached out to Albany UK, one of the developers involved, but haven’t heard back yet. It’s a bit of a waiting game for the couple, who just want to enjoy their lovely view.