Cllr Denise Hyland, Leader, Royal Borough of Greenwich and Cllr Danny Thorpe, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainability, were joined by school children from the nearby Greenslade Primary School.

The children have been coming up with drawings to be used on the hoardings while work continues on the site.

Designs for the new build are for a light-filled, creative cafe space that is in keeping with the Plumstead Common Conservation area.

Cosmur Construction won the contract to transform the building and is scheduled to complete work in the summer.

The process of applications from prospective operators of the cafe closed in January and the winning bidder will be announced shortly.

The cafe is scheduled to open summer 2018.

'A community hub and positive addition to the Slade'

Cllr Hyland, Leader, said "This project is taking a derelict piece of Council property and transforming it into a positive and useful facility serving our residents. Our intention is that this will be more than a cafe. It will be a community hub and positive addition to the Slade and to local life."

'A focal point for the community'

Councillor Danny Thorpe, Deputy Leader, said "The successful operator will need to show they can provide more than a cafe, and that this will be a community resource and focal point for the community, with art displays and plenty of other community events."