Abbey Wood Opportunity Area Planning Framework 173

THAMESMEAD & ABBEY WOOD OPPORTUNITY AREA PLANNING FRAMEWORK 173

P5 Abbey Wood 5.5 Existing context and character

URBAN STRUCTURE PUBLIC SPACE • The character of the area is changing, • The area is well served by open space with major mixed-use redevelopment in the form of parks, woodlands and projects such as Southmere Village, water, giving a distinct local character and the new Abbey Wood station • Southmere Lake is a focal point of the • There are good public transport community set within Southmere Park connections from Abbey Wood • Abbey Way provides a direct link to town centres at Plumstead and between the lake and Lesnes Abbey Woolwich • The Ridgeway provides a direct east- • Major infrastructure causes severance west link to the Thames Path but is - the railway to the south and poorly connected to the wider area Ridgeway and Eastern Way to the • A web of secondary green links serves north - and generally there are poor the residential community, particularly connections to neighbouring areas to the north of the area • The public realm is car-dominated; • Abbey Wood station and new many areas, such as roundabouts, developments such as Sainsbury’s flyovers and subways, are hostile for are establishing more of a street people walking or cycling presence on Harrow Manorway, • Off-street routes provide permeability helping to improve the walking for pedestrians but are not always environment legible and do not feel safe at all times of day THAMESMEAD & ABBEY WOOD OPPORTUNITY AREA PLANNING FRAMEWORK 173

BUILDINGS + STREETS HERITAGE + COMMUNITY ASSETS • South Thamesmead features concrete • Lesnes Abbey, a scheduled ancient brutalist 3-4 storey maisonettes with monument lies just to the south of the cantilever terraces and 12-storey OA boundary tower blocks - these types have • Lesnes Towers (unlisted), the four garages and parking at ground waterside towers, are an iconic level, and little distinction between feature on Thamesmead’s skyline the fronts and backs of properties, • There is an emerging new civic quarter meaning there is little street activity around Southmere Lake including the • Abbey Wood has low-rise, brick-built Lakeside Centre and a proposed new terraced housing and apartment Library blocks around an established network • Wilton Road is a vibrant and growing of green spaces, mainly served by local centre next to Abbey Wood streets accessed from Eynsham Drive station • There are traditional two-storey brick • Other established destinations and terraces to the south east - streets community assets include Eynsham in this area could become more local centre and The Link youth and important as walking and cycling community centre links between Abbey Wood and East Thamesmead • Harrow Manorway and Yarnton Way have long stretches that are difficult to cross, vehicle-dominated and with little or no active frontage THAMESMEAD & ABBEY WOOD OPPORTUNITY AREA PLANNING FRAMEWORK

P5 Abbey Wood 5.5 Existing context and character

Thamesmead Town Centre

4 Southmere

2 Yarnton Way

Harrow Manorway Harrow Abbey Way Abbey

Lesnes Abbey Abbey Wood Station

FIG 5.35 Abbey Wood - Existing context

District/town centres Strategic Industrial Locations Open space SINC

PHYSICAL SEVERANCE Ridgeway Major roads Railway tracks 175

1 3

FIG 5.36 The open space next to Southmere Lake FIG 5.38 Abbey Wood village provides local provides a space for a range of activities, such as local conveniences and is located next to Abbey Wood station markets

2 4

FIG 5.37 Abbey Wood estate can feel separated FIG 5.39 Highways cause major severance and from northern areas of the OA as a result of physical create barriers to walking an cycling. In the evening, obstacles such as the Ridgeway underpasses can feel unsafe and isolated THAMESMEAD & ABBEY WOOD OPPORTUNITY AREA PLANNING FRAMEWORK 177

What this OAPF means for 5.5 Abbey Wood

Southmere Lake

Bridge 2

Junction improvement 4

Lesnes Abbey Wood

FIG 5.40 Potential improvements at Abbey Wood

EXISTING District/town centres Approved/outline permission sites Strategic Industrial Locations Potential areas of change Open space Proposed BRT pilot Site of Importance for Nature Potential BRT extension Conservation (SINC) Key destinations Ridgeway Proposed key routes Proposed major intervention THAMESMEAD & ABBEY WOOD OPPORTUNITY AREA PLANNING FRAMEWORK 177

VISION FOR ABBEY WOOD

The arrival of the Elizabeth line will enhance Abbey Wood’s role as a gateway into the area. Amenity offers in this local centre will be concentrated around the station, with a new route that links to the emerging community hub at Southmere Lake. Harrow Manorway will become a key active travel corridor to the surrounding neighbourhoods, green spaces and Thames waterfront. The centre at Abbey Wood will offer a range of employment opportunities and local town centre uses - allowing local businesses space to grow.

1 Eastern Way and Ridgeway Invest in major improvements to routes across Eastern Way and Ridgeway to create a stronger relationship between North Thamesmead and transport links and regeneration areas at Abbey Wood station. This will allow people to walk and cycle on-street between neighbourhoods.

FIG 5.41 Orford Road, Walthamstow 2 Southmere Lake Improve public realm and create a new hub for sports, health, leisure and community facilities. Potential for ecological improvements at Southmere Lake and for recreational and sports activities (see pg 111).

3 Abbey Wood local centre Enhance Abbey Wood local centre to capitalise on opportunities brought by the Elizabeth line.

FIG 5.42 Sheffield riverside business district 4 Harrow Manorway Improve public realm to create a safe, inviting environment that encourages walking and cycling. Developments should deliver new active frontage to complement the existing local retail offer and provide services for the community.

FIG 5.43 Van Gogh Walk, Lambeth THAMESMEAD & ABBEY WOOD OPPORTUNITY AREA PLANNING FRAMEWORK DLR 179

What this OAPF means for 5.5 Connecting Abbey Wood

Eastern Way Junction

9 Harrow Manorway 6 4

ELIZABETH LINE 2 Abbey Wood

DLR Station 8

FIG 5.44 Potential local connections at Abbey Wood

Proposed bus transit route Transit-related projects Potential bus transit extension Major intervention projects Potential new connection Walking, cycling & public realm projects Potential new/improved walking/cycling routes Potential improvements to existing connections

Existing off-carriageway connection THAMESMEAD & ABBEY WOOD OPPORTUNITY AREA PLANNING FRAMEWORK 179

Abbey Wood Potential local connections

1 Harrow Manorway transit works / Under-used pockets of greenspace could 2 Abbey Wood Hub become active and animated spaces that Works associated with the potential provide a social space for the community bus transit scheme - interchange at and traffic-free walking and cycle routes Abbey Wood, transit stops, corridor through the area. treatments and local walking and cycling accessibility to the services. 7 Sewell Road Development of small sites, such as 3 Eastern Way Junction existing garages, along Sewell Road Potential for a major intervention to could provide passive surveillance over provide a continuous on-street walking the southern boundary of the Ridgeway. and cycling connection. Multiple options This would help make people feel safer will need to be considered, such as and unlock the potential for the Ridgeway replacing the existing narrow bridge as an important connector. through the centre of the junction. 8 Connecting to Crossrail 4 Yarnton Way Roundabout High quality, 24-hour walking and Potential replacement of over-scaled cycling routes, connecting Abbey Wood roundabout with standard four-arm with other neighbourhoods and local junction, significantly improving the destinations could support development quality of the environment and walking of an enhanced and extended town / cycling connections and reducing centre, featuring local retail, commercial highway land-take. opportunities and services, set within a high quality, people focused public realm. 5 Eynsham Drive High-quality facilities for pedestrians 9 Path to Southmere Lake and cyclists along this key route, which Potential to improve the quality and serves schools and community facilities, experience for people using the east- could enable safe journeys that do not west link north of Ampleforth Road, rely on the car. beneath Harrow Manorway, connecting South Thamesmead to Southmere Lake. 6 Abbey Wood Park and the Groves Potential improvements to the green corridors through the area as well as Abbey Wood Park to make these attractive and appealing green links for people to use to travel through the area.