Greenwich Council has ordered the developer of a luxury residential project to knock it down, claiming it strays too far from the original plan.
The council issued an enforcement notice against Comer Homes Group on Monday (September 25), deeming its Mast Quay development in Woolwich, south London, illegal.
Greenwich Council said in a statement: “The council believes that the only reasonable and proportionate way to remedy the damage created by the completed second phase of Mast Quay development to the local area and the tenants living there, to due to the changes made during its construction. , is the complete demolition and restoration of the land to its previous state”.
Comer Homes has announced that it will appeal the decision to the Urban Planning Inspectorate.
“The Comer Homes group is surprised and extremely disappointed by the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s decision to issue an enforcement notice in respect of our Mast Quay Phase Two development,” the company said in a statement.
“We have tried for many months to engage constructively with the council and, despite these disproportionate actions, we remain prepared to do so.”
Construction work on the second phase of Mast Quay was completed in 2022 and tenants have already moved in. If Comer Homes’ appeal is unsuccessful, residents will have to find alternative accommodation.
The last part of the project consists of 206 residential units distributed in two buildings, one with 15 floors and the other with 6 to 23 floors.
The council said it had identified 26 deviations from the original planning permission. These include visible differences with the proposed design and materials, the failure to provide roof gardens and children’s play areas, and the lack of wheelchair access to residents’ balconies and gymnasium.
On its website, Comer Homes describes the scheme as a “magnificent designed living space with panoramic views of the River Thames”.
The first phase of Mast Quay, consisting of three low-rise towers, was substantially completed in 2007 and is not affected by the enforcement notice.
Planning permission was originally granted to Mast Quay Developments Ltd in 2012. Permission was passed to Comer Homes after the original developer went into administration.
Council leader Anthony Okereke said: “The right thing is not always the easy thing to do.
“That’s why we won’t stand by and allow illegal, shoddy development anywhere in our borough and we’re not afraid to make tough decisions when we think it’s the right thing to do.”
