The tower block, previously deemed unlawful, is being given the chance to remain standing- with some caveats
The changes to the Mast Quays tower block include design changes, and two payments totalling nearly £7m.
The tower was previously issued a demolition order after disputes with the design.
The Mast Quays tower block can remain open
The original demolition order was issued in September 2023, after finding at least 26 changes in the construction from the original approved design.
From October 2023, the residents began to campaign to save their homes, and the developer, Comer Homes, appealed to the Planning Inspectorate.
On 9 January, the Inspectorate decided that planning permission is now granted for the building in its current state, provided Comer Homes comply with new conditions. These conditions include removing the orange cladding currently on the side of the building, being deemed as a ‘visually intrusive’ colour, and the council must agree on the new colour.
Comer Homes will also have three months to provide a plan to make 90% of the homes in the building accessible, as was stated in the original planning permission. This will include accessibility features that many of the flats are missing.
A further monetary contribution of £4.4m in an affordable housing contribution and a Community Infrastructure Levy contribution of £2.34m. The affordable housing contribution is the equivalent of 40 affordable homes at £100,000 per home, matching the number of affordable homes that the tower fell short by for the Greenwich planning policy.
The tower was originally deemed unlawful
Originally, the council found 26 deviations from the planning permission, including:
- Design changes to external appearance
- Building and window material changes
- Increase to footprint size
- Removal of roof gardens
- Too many non-accessible apartments
- Fewer commercial floors
- Too little underground car parking
- Too few disabled parking bays
- Shared residential basement access with potential for conflicts
- Footbridge that was of poorer quality than in the plan.
A spokesperson for Comer Homes said: “We’re happy with the decision made by the independent inquiry and pleased that a satisfactory outcome has been reached for the good of the residents of Mast Quay Phase II.
“We look forward to now working closely with Greenwich Council to move forward and bring this situation to a positive end.”
A Greenwich council spokesperson said: “This was a landmark case following unprecedented enforcement action.
“We stand by our decision to hold developers to account when unlawful development has taken place in our borough and we make no apologies for standing up for our residents and local communities. We look forward to commenting further in due course.”
