Plans for a new hotel beside several historic buildings dating back to the 17th century have been outlined for a town centre in Greenwich. The council has received plans for a new block of flats and hotel just off Eltham High Street.
The project would see the industrial building currently on the land on Orangery Lane being knocked down to build a new block up to five storeys tall. The site is bound by several Grade II listed buildings on its north and south sides. This includes the Orangery, a building believed to be built in the gardens of Eltham House in the late 17th century according to Historic England.
The other side of the site is greeted by the Grade II listed Cliefden House, a three storey 18th century building facing Eltham High Street. A Grade II listed house also sits south west of the plot, which Historic England claims could be dated from beyond the 17th century.
The new development, proposed by Deco Design and Build, would include a 35-room hotel and seven flats in a block ranging from three to five storeys tall, with a green roof to promote biodiversity. The ground floor would also see space for shops or a cafe. The submission follows two previous applications to build housing on the site, which were refused by the council for the buildings being too high and dense.
Planning documents from Montagu Evans, on behalf of the applicant, said the building had been designed to complement its surrounding structures, such as protruding bricks and curved windows in response to design cues in the Orangery. A new public square is also planned which would face the old building.
Council documents said the scheme had been subject to two rounds of public consultation. Officers said in their report that the new building would have a minor adverse impact on the surrounding listed structures, but that design elements had partially mitigated the issue.
The plans said: “The existing building on the site is of low architectural quality and interacts poorly with the surrounding streetscape. It contributes little to the townscape and its redevelopment has the potential to improve the area…The proposed development would form a congruent and attractive addition to the townscape and its high architectural design will deliver considerable urban design benefits.”
The plans on the new block on Orangery Lane will be discussed at a planning board meeting for Greenwich Council on March 19.
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Picture 1: The Orangery could reportedly date back as far as the 17th century. Credit: SPPARC / Deco Design and Build
Picture 2: A CGI of the new building proposed for Orangery Lane. Credit: SPPARC / Deco Design and Build
