A greener and better-connected Abbey Wood, a thriving Woolwich town centre with stronger links to the waterfront, and a revitalised Plumstead high street with better transport connections are all part of the Council's emerging vision, informed by the priorities residents, businesses and community groups shared earlier this year.
The public’s views are helping the council and its commissioned partners to create a shared vision and strategic plan, known as an urban regeneration framework, for future growth, investment and regeneration opportunities in each Abbey Wood, Plumstead and Woolwich over the next 10 years.
Before draft frameworks are prepared and published for formal consultation later this year, residents are being invited to review these emerging visions, tell us what we've got right and what could be improved by Sunday 16 August, and help shape the next stage of work.
What residents told us and the emerging visions for each area
(based on feedback gathered between Thursday 12 February and Wednesday 11 March 2026)
Abbey Wood
Residents told us
- Improve transport connections across the area
- Invest in local centres
- Make green spaces safer and more accessible
- Deliver better homes and community facilities
The emerging vision
- A greener, better-connected Abbey Wood with safer walking and cycling routes linking neighbourhoods, parks and local centres.
- Stronger local centres at Abbey Wood Village and Eynsham Drive with improved shops, health services, community facilities and public spaces.
- Better connections across Harrow Manorway, making it easier and safer to navigate on either side of the road.
- Healthier communities supported by improved parks, play spaces, schools and community facilities, alongside high-quality homes that complement existing neighbourhoods.
Woolwich
Residents told us
- Make it easier and safer to move around
- Revitalise the town centre
- Improve public spaces and access to the waterfront
- More evening and night-time activities and opportunities are needed
The emerging vision
- A better-connected town centre that makes it easier and safer to walk, cycle and use public transport between key destinations.
- A thriving High Street with stronger support for local businesses, markets, culture and a growing evening economy.
- Greener and more welcoming public spaces, including improved links between the town centre, General Gordon Square and the waterfront.
- A town centre that celebrates Woolwich’s heritage, culture and identity while creating more reasons for people to spend time there throughout the day and evening.
Plumstead
Residents told us
- Improve the High Street
- Reduce traffic and improve walking
- Protect local character while encouraging investment
- Create cleaner, greener and safer neighbourhoods
The emerging vision
- Celebrate what makes Plumstead unique by strengthening the distinct character of its neighbourhoods while protecting what residents value most.
- Improve connections across the area through safer walking and cycling routes, greener streets and better public spaces.
- Explore opportunities to transform the area around Plumstead Station and the gyratory, creating a greener, more welcoming gateway to the town centre with improved links to surrounding neighbourhoods.
- Revitalise key destinations including the High Street, industrial area and Ridgeway, supporting local businesses, jobs, community facilities and investment.
Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “We want Royal Greenwich to be the place to be – with thriving town centres, greener neighbourhoods and opportunities for everyone to succeed.
"These emerging visions show how Abbey Wood, Plumstead and Woolwich could evolve over the coming years, with improved high streets, safer and greener streets, better transport connections and new opportunities for businesses to grow.
"These ideas have been shaped by local people, and we want residents to continue helping us refine them so future investment reflects the priorities of the communities who live here."
Councillor Tom Creswell, Cabinet Member for Planning and Development, said:
“We want these frameworks for the future of Abbey Wood, Woolwich, and Plumstead to be shaped by the communities that live and work in them. That’s why we're sharing emerging ideas now so local people can challenge them, build on them and help set the direction of these frameworks from the outset.
“These frameworks are about planning positively for the future and asking an important question: what kind of neighbourhood do we want to live in, work in, and thrive in, ten years' from now?
"This is an exciting opportunity for residents, businesses and community organisations to help create shared visions for their areas that can guide future investment and regeneration in a way that always reflects local priorities. Please get involved however you can and share your views."
How to get involved
Online
You can view all of the emerging visions and find out how to comment on them here - you have until Sunday 16 August to submit your feedback.
In-person events
Abbey Wood
Public Exhibition (exhibition materials will be available to view and comment on):
Location: Abbey Wood Library, 138 Eynsham Drive, Abbey Wood, SE2 9PT
Dates: Monday 13 July until Sunday 16 August
Location: Thamesmead Library, the NEST, Cygnet Square, SE2 9UH
Dates: Monday 13 July until Sunday 16 August.
Drop-In Events (meet member of the project team and ask questions):
Location: William Temple Church, 180 Eynsham Drive, Abbey Wood, SE2 9PT
Date: Saturday 18 July (11am – 3pm)
Location: Abbey Wood Community Centre, 4 Knee Hill, Abbey Wood, SE2 0YS
Date: Wednesday 22 July (4-8pm)
Plumstead
Public Exhibition (exhibition materials will be available to view and comment on):
Location: Plumstead Centre Library
Dates: Thursday 16 July until Thursday 30 July
Drop-In Events (meet a member of the project team and ask questions):
Location: Plumstead Fire Station,1 Lakedale Rd, SE18 IPP
Date: Tuesday 14 July (4pm to 7.30pm)
Location: Plumstead Radical Club, 83-88 Walmer Terrace, SEI8 7DZ
Date: Wednesday 15 July (2pm to 6pm)
Location: Plumstead Centre Library, 232 Plumstead High St, SE18 IJL
Date: Thursday 30 July (2pm to 6pm)
Woolwich
Public Exhibition (exhibition materials will be available to view and comment on):
Location: Woolwich Centre Library
Dates: Sunday 26 July until Wednesday 12 August
Drop-In Events (meet a member of the project team and ask questions):
Location: Beresford Square, SE18 6AR
Date and Time: Friday 24 July, 10am to 4pm
Location: Beresford Square, SE18 6AR
Date and Time: Saturday 25 July, 10am to 2.30pm
FAQs
What is an Urban Regeneration Framework?
An Urban Regeneration Framework is a long-term strategic plan that helps guide future growth, investment and regeneration in an area.
It is not a planning application, development proposal or a confirmed construction programme. It exists to help identify opportunities for future growth, investment and regeneration that can inform future decisions by the Council, developers, investors and other partners.
Are these proposals going ahead?
The emerging visions are about exploring what could be possible for Abbey Wood, Plumstead and Woolwich over the coming years. They are intended to spark conversation, test ideas and help shape a shared ambition for the future.
No decisions have been made and the emerging visions are not approved projects. We are engaging with residents now because we want local people to help refine the ideas before draft Urban Regeneration Frameworks are prepared.
Any future proposals would be subject to further development, consultation and the appropriate decision-making processes in partnership with residents and local businesses.
Will the Council deliver everything shown in the engagement material?
No. The emerging visions are intended to start conversations about what the future of each area could look like. Some ideas may be changed, some may not be taken forward and others may require further studies, funding, consultation or planning approval before they could happen.
Why are you showing detailed ideas if nothing has been decided?
We want residents to help shape the frameworks at an early stage rather than presenting a completed document later in the process.
By sharing emerging ideas now, local people have a greater opportunity to influence the direction of the frameworks before they are finalised.
Will these frameworks lead to new development?
The frameworks may identify opportunities for future development, investment and improvements.
However, any future development proposals would still need to go through the appropriate planning process, including consultation where required.
Does this mean my home or business will be affected?
No decisions have been made about any specific sites, properties or developments through this process.
The purpose of the frameworks is to establish a long-term vision for each area rather than determine the future of individual buildings or properties.
How do these frameworks relate to the Local Plan?
The Local Plan sets out borough-wide planning policies and priorities.
The Urban Regeneration Frameworks provide more detailed, place-based visions for Abbey Wood, Plumstead and Woolwich. The two documents will help inform each other but serve different purposes.
How has resident feedback been used so far?
The emerging visions have been developed using feedback gathered from residents, businesses, community organisations and stakeholders during the first phase of engagement earlier this year.
The priorities people told us about – including improving local centres, delivering more affordable housing, creating greener spaces, making it easier to move around and supporting local businesses – have informed the emerging visions.
What happens next?
Feedback on the emerging visions will be used to help prepare draft Urban Regeneration Frameworks.
Those draft frameworks will then be published for formal public consultation later this year before any final frameworks are considered for approval by the Council’s Cabinet.