Greenwich Millennium Village
Encyclopedia
The Greenwich Millennium Village (GMV) is an innovative mixed-tenure modern housing estate
on an urban village
model located on the Greenwich Peninsula
in Greenwich
in south-east London
, and part of the Millennium Communities Programme
under English Partnerships
(now renamed Homes and Communities Agency
). The village is designed by architects Ralph Erskine
and partners with EPR Architects Ltd as executive architect as part of the regeneration of the whole brownfield site of East Greenwich Gas Works
. GMV is south of the former Millennium Dome
, now renamed the O2
.
The village on the southern banks of the Thames, about one mile upstream from the Thames Barrier
and adjacent to its own purpose-built Ecology Park, cycle paths and recreational areas. The village currently has the Millennium Primary School and a medical GP
surgery. Next to the complex, at Peartree Wharf, is the Greenwich Yacht Club, a modern building provided by English Partnerships.
The Village is being developed by a consortium
of Countryside Properties
and Taylor Wimpey
. The housing is of modern, environmentally-friendly design, and the development aims to cut primary energy
use by 80% using low-energy building techniques and renewable energy
technologies. GMV is planned by the developers to continue to expand until about 2015, with its own integrated village shopping and community centres. As of 2010, 1,098 flats and houses as well as a village square with shops have been completed. Of the units completed about 20% are affordable housing
which are owned by a housing association
who rent to those in social need as well as to key workers under "rent to buy" purchase schemes.
public transport system which includes seven bus routes—two running 24 hours, and is within walking distance of the North Greenwich tube station
on the Jubilee Line
which provides access to central London in less than 25 minutes. It is also close to the A102 road
semi-motorway which connects to the A2 road
to the south and to the north the Blackwall Tunnel
crossing of the Thames River connecting to Canary Wharf
on the Isle of Dogs
, the A12 road running north and the A13 road running east and west. In addition, within walking distance of GMV, to the east of the North Greenwich tube station on the Thames is the QEII Pier
, which offers commuter boat service to other parts of London, both east and west.
Housing estate
A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance...
on an urban village
Urban village
An urban village is an urban planning and urban design concept. It refers to an urban form typically characterized by:* Medium density development* Mixed use zoning* The provision of good public transit...
model located on the Greenwich Peninsula
Greenwich Peninsula
Greenwich Peninsula is an area of South London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.The peninsula is bounded on three sides by a loop of the Thames, between the Isle of Dogs and Silvertown. To the south is the rest of Greenwich, to the south-east is Charlton.The peninsula lies...
in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
in south-east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and part of the Millennium Communities Programme
Millennium Communities Programme
The Millennium Communities Programme , is an English Partnerships initiative to construct 7 new 'villages' that are intended to 'set the standard for 21st Century living, and to serve as a model for the creation of new communities' in England.This is to be achieved by promoting innovative building...
under English Partnerships
English Partnerships
English Partnerships was the national regeneration agency for England, performing a similar role on a national level to that fulfilled by Regional Development Agencies on a regional level...
(now renamed Homes and Communities Agency
Homes and Communities Agency
The Homes and Communities Agency is the non-departmental public body that funds new affordable housing in England. It was established by the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 as one of the successor bodies to the Housing Corporation, and became operational on 1 December 2008.-Background:On 17...
). The village is designed by architects Ralph Erskine
Ralph Erskine (architect)
Ralph Erskine, CBRE, RFS, ARIBA was an architect and planner who lived and worked in Sweden for most of his life.-Upbringing and influences :...
and partners with EPR Architects Ltd as executive architect as part of the regeneration of the whole brownfield site of East Greenwich Gas Works
East Greenwich Gas Works
The East Greenwich Gas Works of the South Metropolitan Gas Company was the last gas works to be built in London, and the most modern. Originally manufacturing town gas from coal brought in by river and exporting coke and chemicals, the plant was adapted to produce gas from oil in the 1960s...
. GMV is south of the former Millennium Dome
Millennium Dome
The Millennium Dome, colloquially referred to simply as The Dome or even The O2 Arena, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium...
, now renamed the O2
The O2 (London)
The O2, visually typeset in branding as The O2, is a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London, England, including an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants...
.
The village on the southern banks of the Thames, about one mile upstream from the Thames Barrier
Thames Barrier
The Thames Barrier is the world's second-largest movable flood barrier and is located downstream of central London. Its purpose is to prevent London from being flooded by exceptionally high tides and storm surges moving up from the sea...
and adjacent to its own purpose-built Ecology Park, cycle paths and recreational areas. The village currently has the Millennium Primary School and a medical GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
surgery. Next to the complex, at Peartree Wharf, is the Greenwich Yacht Club, a modern building provided by English Partnerships.
The Village is being developed by a consortium
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
of Countryside Properties
Countryside Properties
Countryside Properties Ltd is a property development company based in the United Kingdom. It is active in urban regeneration and creation of sustainable communities. It also carries out Design and Build contracts for housing associations....
and Taylor Wimpey
Taylor Wimpey
Taylor Wimpey plc is one of the largest British based housebuilding companies. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index...
. The housing is of modern, environmentally-friendly design, and the development aims to cut primary energy
Primary energy
Primary energy is an energy form found in nature that has not been subjected to any conversion or transformation process. It is energy contained in raw fuels, and other forms of energy received as input to a system...
use by 80% using low-energy building techniques and renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
technologies. GMV is planned by the developers to continue to expand until about 2015, with its own integrated village shopping and community centres. As of 2010, 1,098 flats and houses as well as a village square with shops have been completed. Of the units completed about 20% are affordable housing
Affordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
which are owned by a housing association
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
who rent to those in social need as well as to key workers under "rent to buy" purchase schemes.
Transport
GMV is served by the Transport for LondonTransport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
public transport system which includes seven bus routes—two running 24 hours, and is within walking distance of the North Greenwich tube station
North Greenwich tube station
North Greenwich is a station on London Underground's Jubilee Line, opened on 14 May 1999.Despite its name, North Greenwich is not in the area historically known as North Greenwich, on the Isle of Dogs, north of the river; an entirely different station used to be there, between 1872 and 1926...
on the Jubilee Line
Jubilee Line
The Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections—initially to Charing Cross, in central London, and later extended, in 1999, to Stratford, in east London. The later stations are larger and have special safety features, both aspects...
which provides access to central London in less than 25 minutes. It is also close to the A102 road
A102 road
The A102 is a road that starts in Clapton in the north London Borough of Hackney and ends in Kidbrooke in the south London Borough of Greenwich. The A102 was formerly a continuous route including two motorway sections classified as the A102 however, subsequent to the renumbering of part of the...
semi-motorway which connects to the A2 road
A2 road (Great Britain)
The A2 is a major road in southern England, connecting London with the English Channel port of Dover in Kent. This route has always been of importance as a connection between the British capital of London and sea trade routes to Continental Europe...
to the south and to the north the Blackwall Tunnel
Blackwall Tunnel
The Blackwall Tunnel is a pair of road tunnels underneath the River Thames in east London, linking the London Borough of Tower Hamlets with the London Borough of Greenwich, and part of the A102 road. The northern portal lies just south of the East India Dock Road in Blackwall; the southern...
crossing of the Thames River connecting to Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
on the Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs
The Isle of Dogs is a former island in the East End of London that is bounded on three sides by one of the largest meanders in the River Thames.-Etymology:...
, the A12 road running north and the A13 road running east and west. In addition, within walking distance of GMV, to the east of the North Greenwich tube station on the Thames is the QEII Pier
QEII Pier
North Greenwich Pier is a pier operated by London River Services on the River Thames, London, UK. It is situated on the Greenwich peninsula in south-east London, to the east of the Millennium Dome...
, which offers commuter boat service to other parts of London, both east and west.