The Greenwich Wire

"School wars": Moral panic or self-fulfilling prophecy? The Metropolitan Police say they still haven't encountered a single incident relating to the viral red vs blue school wars trend. So is the threat real? And are parents unduly worried?

I’ve been obsessed with the “school wars” meme, what it says about London, the very real fears of parents, algorithmic school rumours… and why almost no other news outlets have just sent people to stand and see what happened. Here’s where we’ve ended up. www.londoncentric.media/p/school-war...

Plan for 20-storey tower behind Greenwich Ikea given go-ahead - The Greenwich Wire Plans for a 20-storey tower behind Greenwich’s Ikea store have been approved by councillors, despite complaints from neighbours that the development would replace what was previously planned to be…

Plans for a 20-storey tower behind Greenwich’s Ikea store have been approved by councillors, despite complaints from neighbours that the development would replace what was previously planned to be green space.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/03/02/g...

Lewisham's closed Ravensbourne Arms could be turned into ten-room HMO - The Greenwich Wire A pub in Lewisham that had been at the centre of a campaign to turn it into a community music venue could become a ten-room HMO if a developer is successful.

A pub in Lewisham that had been at the centre of a campaign to turn it into a community music venue could become a ten-room HMO if a developer is successful.

The Ravensbourne Arms closed in 2016 after the pub company Antic sold the building.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/03/02/r...

£1,500 feels like a shocking rent for "a small, ensuite room with shared facilities". And approved with zero affordable housing units.

Developers apply to snuff out Charlton's closed Pickwick pub for good - The Greenwich Wire A long-closed pub in Charlton could be snuffed out for good after developers applied to turn it into commercial premises. The Pickwick, on Woolwich Road, has been shut since 2017 and has since had…

A long-closed pub in Charlton could be snuffed out for good after developers applied to turn it into commercial premises.

Pure Let Greenwich Ltd claims that The Pickwick has been “marketed extensively” since 2019 and is no longer viable.

Green light for co-living homes to replace Woolwich's Poundstretcher store - The Greenwich Wire The Poundstretcher store in Woolwich is set to be knocked down and replaced with a six-storey block containing 156 co-living homes - and work could start this year.

The Poundstretcher store in Woolwich is set to be knocked down and replaced with a six-storey block containing 156 co-living homes – and work could start this year.

Can Sadiq Khan stop Asif Aziz's mass evictions? We went to the billionaire's home to get answers, as a leading homelessness charity cut ties with the landlord and tenants begged the mayor to save their homes.

Breaking:
*Asif Aziz's mass evictions of Londoners appear to be BACK ON
*Sadiq Khan personally demands immediate response from the landlord
*Leading homelessness charity cuts ties with the Aziz family and refuses donation
*Questions over legality of paperwork
www.londoncentric.media/p/asif-aziz-...

Greenwich councillors approve 5 per cent council tax hike - The Greenwich Wire Greenwich councillors signed off a 4.99 per cent council tax increase on Thursday - but Labour representatives were accused of laughing when the fate of the borough’s adventure play centres were…

Greenwich councillors signed off a 4.99 per cent council tax increase on Thursday – but Labour representatives were accused of laughing when the fate of the borough’s adventure play centres were raised.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/27/g...

New DLR trains to return by late summer - but passengers warned of more closures - The Greenwich Wire New Docklands Light Railway trains will not return to service until late summer, Transport for London has announced.

New Docklands Light Railway trains will finally return to service by late summer, Transport for London has announced - but parts of the network will need to be closed at times so further tests can take place. 

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/27/n...

Deptford student towers rejected over fears about views from Greenwich Park - The Greenwich Wire Controversial plans for nearly 600 student flats next to Deptford Creek have been thrown out after concerns that the blocks could affect views from Greenwich Park.

Plans for nearly 600 student rooms on Deptford Creek would cause serious harm to views from Greenwich town centre, a planning inspector has ruled, rejecting an appeal.

But the same developer won approval this week for new blocks 400 metres down the creek.

Southeastern set to restore all-day link to Elizabeth Line in plan to reverse train cuts - The Greenwich Wire Southeastern Metro trains in Greenwich and Bexley boroughs could mostly return to pre-Covid service levels by the end of the year, a rail boss has told councillors.

Southeastern Metro trains in Greenwich and Bexley boroughs could mostly return to pre-Covid service levels by the end of the year – including a bringing back all-day direct link to the Elizabeth Line at Abbey Wood.

New plans for Morden Wharf deferred over plan to cut affordable housing - The Greenwich Wire Greenwich councillors have deferred a decision on revised plans for the 36-storey Morden Wharf development after the company behind it said it wanted to cut the proportion of affordable homes on the…

Greenwich councillors have deferred a decision on revised plans for the 36-storey Morden Wharf development after the new owner said it wanted to cut the proportion of affordable homes on the site.

The 1,500 home-scheme was originally approved in 2021.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/26/m...

Summer shutdown at Charing Cross and Waterloo East for track works - The Greenwich Wire Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations will be closed for 22 days during the summer holidays so engineers can replace “increasingly unreliable” old track.

Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations will be closed for 22 days during the summer holidays so engineers can replace “increasingly unreliable” old track.

Trains will either terminate at London Bridge or be diverted to Victoria, Cannon Street or Blackfriars.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/26/c...

Southeastern set to restore all-day link to Elizabeth Line in plan to reverse train cuts - The Greenwich Wire Southeastern Metro trains in Greenwich and Bexley boroughs could mostly return to pre-Covid service levels by the end of the year, a rail boss has told councillors.

Southeastern Metro trains in Greenwich and Bexley boroughs could mostly return to pre-Covid service levels by the end of the year – including a bringing back all-day direct link to the Elizabeth Line at Abbey Wood.

Why does the argument have to be about reducing crime? Why not aboit the amount of joy they bring or the positive experience in poorer areas?

Billionaire halts mass eviction after London Centric investigation Exclusive: Asif Aziz's Criterion Capital hoped to replace hundreds of tenants with more lucrative temporary accommodation. That plan has been shelved – for now.

Asif Aziz's Criterion Capital halts mass eviction after London Centric uncovered what was going on. Hundreds of Londoners now receiving bizarre door-to-door visits blaming misinformation and being asked to record videos saying they don't want to be evicted. www.londoncentric.media/p/asif-aziz-...

Greenwich's adventure play centres do not cut crime, council says - The Greenwich Wire Greenwich Council has said there is no evidence that its five staffed adventure play centres have reduced crime in the borough, as councillors prepare to challenge a decision to close three of them.

Greenwich Council has said there is no evidence that its five staffed adventure play centres have reduced crime in the borough, as councillors prepare to challenge a decision to close three of them.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/24/g...

Woodland Heights: New flats on top of former nurses' home approved - The Greenwich Wire Plans to add an extra floor to a five-storey block of flats overlooking Greenwich have been approved despite objections from people already living there.

Plans to add an extra floor to a five-storey block of flats overlooking Greenwich have been approved despite objections from people already living there.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/23/w...

Who's the billionaire behind London’s biggest mass eviction? He's the London philanthropist who says he's committed to solving homelessness. So why is Asif Aziz's Criterion Capital rushing to make hundreds of Londoners homeless in the coming weeks?

London’s “worst mass eviction in recent history” is underway; hundreds of households across London told to get out of their homes this week by the same landlord, ahead of the renters rights act. The landlord? Billionaire Asif Aziz’s Criterion Capital. www.londoncentric.media/p/asif-aziz-...

Greenwich Council set to privatise its traffic wardens - The Greenwich Wire Greenwich’s Labour council has confirmed plans to privatise the borough’s traffic wardens - despite the party pledging nationally to bring more services in-house.

Greenwich’s Labour council has confirmed plans to privatise the borough’s traffic wardens to cope with possible growth in parking zones across the borough.

Silvertown Tunnel buses will be free until May, TfL confirms - The Greenwich Wire Buses that run through the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels - routes 108, 129 and SL4 - will remain free until May 27, Transport for London has said.

The three buses that run through the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels will remain free until late May, Transport for London has said.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/20/s...

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Kidbrooke council housing project shortlisted for architecture award - The Greenwich Wire A development of council homes in Kidbrooke is on the shortlist foir a prestigious architecture prize alongside the new Sadlers Wells Theatre and luxury housing in Chelsea.

A development of council homes in Kidbrooke is on the shortlist for a prestigious architecture prize alongside the new Sadlers Wells Theatre and luxury housing in Chelsea. An outdoor classroom in Lesnes Abbey Woods is also in the running.

Greenwich Council rejects scrutiny call and permanently imposes LTN - The Greenwich Wire Greenwich Council has blocked a final attempt to challenge its controversial low-traffic neighbourhood - just days after denying it had airbrushed opposition to the project.

Greenwich Council has blocked a final attempt to challenge its controversial low-traffic neighbourhood – just days after denying it had airbrushed opposition to the project.

The scheme will now be made permanent without any further scrutiny.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/18/g...

Castle Cinema to reopen Catford Mews site 15 months after closure - The Greenwich Wire An independent cinema operator from Hackney is to take over the former Catford Mews site - 15 months after the previous operator was evicted.

An independent cinema operator from Hackney is to take over the former Catford Mews site – 15 months after the previous operator was evicted for non-payment of rent.

Castle Cinema already operates another former Really Local Group site in Sidcup.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/17/c...

Castle Cinema to reopen Catford Mews site 15 months after closure - The Greenwich Wire An independent cinema operator from Hackney is to take over the former Catford Mews site - 15 months after the previous operator was evicted.

An independent cinema operator from Hackney is to take over the former Catford Mews site – 15 months after the previous operator was evicted for non-payment of rent.

Castle Cinema already operates another former Really Local Group site in Sidcup.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/17/c...

Greenwich Council protests about latest cut to hospital bus services - The Greenwich Wire A key bus route serving North Greenwich and Queen Elizabeth Hospital is being reduced in frequency by Transport for London - but the council says it was not consulted and has protested about the…

A key bus route serving North Greenwich and Queen Elizabeth Hospital is being reduced in frequency by Transport for London – but the council says it was not consulted and has protested about the decision.

Irish chain to open cinema in troubled Lewisham Gateway development - The Greenwich Wire An operator for the cinema in the Lewisham Gateway development has finally been confirmed - bringing movies back to the town centre for the first time in 45 years.

An operator for the cinema in the troubled Lewisham Gateway development has finally been confirmed - bringing movies back to the town centre for the first time in 45 years.

The Irish chain Arc will take on the long-promised cinema, but there is no opening date.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/13/l...

We haven't airbrushed LTN opposition, Greenwich Council insists - The Greenwich Wire Greenwich Council has denied airbrushing evidence of public opposition in reports about its low-traffic neighbourhood in Greenwich and Blackheath, insisting that the consultation was not “biased,…

Greenwich Council has denied airbrushing evidence of public opposition in reports about its low-traffic neighbourhood in Greenwich and Blackheath.

The Greenwich Wire understands that the final go-ahead for the scheme will be challenged by councillors next week.

greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/12/g...

Cutty Sark DLR closure 'has hit Greenwich town centre footfall' - The Greenwich Wire Footfall in Greenwich town centre has decreased as a result of the closure of Cutty Sark DLR station, councillors will hear next week.

Footfall in Greenwich town centre has decreased as a result of the closure of Cutty Sark DLR station, councillors will hear next week.

TfL is hoping to reopen the station this spring after it closed in May so its worn-out escalators can be replaced. greenwichwire.co.uk/2026/02/12/c...