The developers have returned with reduced plans that propose smaller tower blocks and 200 fewer rooms by Deptford Creek
New plans to build two student tower blocks by Deptford Creek in Greenwich have emerged six months after a previous proposal was refused on appeal.
The heights of the two buildings have been reduced in order to appease Greenwich Council’s concerns that their high-rise nature would negatively impact views from Greenwich Park and Maritime Greenwich.
Luxury student accommodation business YourTRIBE and development and investment company Redington Capital have returned with a new proposal to demolish three low-rise residential buildings in Greenwich Quay by Clarence Road and build student accommodation in their place.
The student tower blocks have been reduced from 17 and 13 storeys to 12 and 9 storeys, and the number of student rooms has fallen from 590 to 390.
A full planning application is yet to be submitted, but the developers have handed Greenwich Council a request for an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Opinion. This request seeks a statement from the South East London authority outlining how in-depth the full proposal’s environmental statement should be.
YourTRIBE and Redington Capital first submitted plans to build the two tower blocks just south of the Greenwich Reach Swing Bridge in December 2023. Their initial proposal sought to build 20 and 15 storey towers, but these were reduced twice, to 17 and 13 before going before Greenwich Council’s Planning Board in May 2025.
The committee deferred making a final decision following a site visit, and reconvened to discuss the plans the following month. It decided to refuse the contentious plans—which garnered 294 letters of support and 251 objections—due to fears the high-rise blocks could harm nearby heritage views.
During the June 2025 meeting, Cllr David Gardner said: “I am concerned about the impact on the views from the National Maritime Museum, One Tree Hill and Lover’s Walk, and I think those views are really important. They are part of what makes Greenwich.”
YourTRIBE and Redington Capital appealed this refusal to the Planning Inspectorate, but the governmental planning body upheld Greenwich Council’s refusal in March and ruled that the towers would harm the significance of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Park and the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) of Maritime Greenwich.
YourTRIBE and Redington Capital believe the new blueprint is low enough not to harm the significance of these nearby heritage sites, many of which are considered to be some of the most important in London.
The screening report document submitted by the developer considers many of these views and proclaims the towers would not “give rise to any direct impacts on any built heritage assets”.
The document states: “It introduces a new high quality scheme designed to respect the character and appearance/significance of nearby Conservation Areas overall and contributes positively to enhance their setting.
“It is designed to be a positive addition in the setting of nearby heritage assets, including the Greenwich Maritime WHS, listed buildings and locally listed buildings, and to the composition of key local and distant views.
“Its massing and height have been tested in London View Management Framework views and views from the WHS to ensure there is no adverse effect in these views or to the Outstanding Universal Value of the WHS.”
YourTRIBE and Redington Capital’s request for an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Opinion can be viewed on Greenwich Council’s planning portal at reference 26/2812/EIA.
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