Sir Terry Farrell progressing Convoys Wharf masterplan

Convoys Wharf.

To say this site has had a chequered history would be an understatement. Back in 2010 a major planning application submitted by architects Aedas didn't go down well. This was more or less a re-submission, or slight revision to the 2002 application (ref: DC/02/52533), which didn't go down well either. According to local blog, The Deptford Dame "local people, the council's planning department, archaeologists and industrial historians, garden history experts, maritime heritage specialists, and MP Joan Ruddock to name but a few", voiced their displeasure with the plans. Pretty much everyone then...

Then back in March, developers Hutchison Whampoa turned to the masterplanner of them all, none other than Sir Terry Farrell to review its plans, in order to get the locals, the council and everyone else on side. With a new and updated website, the scheme now appears to be going in the right direction, or at least that's what the developers are trying to put across; with new videos showing 'public consultation' in full effect. Here's a little taster. There's much more on their site here.

However the plans don't seem to have changed a great deal? Like, The Deptford Dame blog  points out, recent consultation and exhibitions only showed the proposed development as a 'groundscape' model, ie lower floors only, therefore making it impossible to judge the scheme as a whole. Apparently a second 'consultation' in September will reveal more. Only then will we see the real changes Sir Terry Farrell has input.

Lastly, archaeology investigations are still continuing and apparently it's the "largest archaeological investigation of a historic naval dockyard ever undertaken, anywhere in the world"... Bet you didn't know that!!