Key Points
- New Application Submitted: Goldenspark (Timber) Ltd has submitted a planning application to redevelop the site of The Who’d a Thought It, a derelict 19th-century pub located at 7 Timbercroft Lane in Plumstead, South London.
- Complete Demolition Proposed: The new proposal seeks the total removal of the locally listed public house to make way for nine residential properties, with construction estimated to take over a year to complete.
- Fourth Attempt in Five Years: This proposal marks the fourth planning submission in five years regarding the future of the historic site.
- Previous Refusals: Royal Borough of Greenwich planners previously refused conversion and redevelopment schemes, arguing that the loss of the public house was unjustified and objecting to the demolition of the heritage asset.
- Shift in Strategy: A previous application withdrawn in 2025 attempted to retain the pub while building six dwellings. The applicant now claims there is no realistic or viable prospect of returning the site to public house use.
Plumstead (South London News) August 8, 2026 — A historic 19th-century public house in South London could be completely demolished to make way for a new residential development under freshly submitted planning proposals. Developers Goldenspark (Timber) Ltd have submitted plans to the Royal Borough of Greenwich seeking permission to transform the site of The Who’d a Thought It, situated at 7 Timbercroft Lane, Plumstead, into nine new homes. Should the application receive planning approval, construction works across the site are projected to take over a year to reach completion.
The application represents the fourth attempt in five years to secure redevelopment permissions for the derelict premises. Unlike previous schemes that sought to preserve aspects of the existing structure, the latest proposal requests full permission to clear the plot entirely.
The applicant asserts that market conditions and site constraints mean there is no realistic or viable prospect of the property ever reopening or operating successfully as a public house in the future.
What are the latest housing plans for the site of The Who’d a Thought It in Plumstead?
The current scheme put forward by Goldenspark (Timber) Ltd proposes the complete clearance of the derelict 19th-century structure to enable the construction of nine separate residential units. If approved by Greenwich Council planners, the redeveloped plot would transition fully from commercial and community use to residential accommodation.
According to the planning documentation submitted on behalf of the developer, the long-term vacancy and deteriorating physical condition of the building have rendered commercial restoration unfeasible. The applicant maintains that exhaustive evaluations indicate the site cannot sustainably continue as a drinking establishment or community hub.
As a result, the developer contends that replacing the abandoned building with nine modern houses provides the most practical and efficient use of urban land in South London.
Why have previous planning applications for 7 Timbercroft Lane been rejected by Greenwich Council?
Planning history for 7 Timbercroft Lane reveals a continuous five-year dialogue between property developers and local authority planners regarding the preservation of local heritage versus urban housing expansion. Over the course of four separate applications, Greenwich Council has consistently maintained a strict approach towards protecting locally listed assets and preserving social infrastructure.
Previous proposals seeking permission to alter or demolish the premises were formally refused by council planners on several distinct grounds:
- Unjustified Loss of Community Infrastructure: Planners concluded that insufficient evidence had been presented to demonstrate that the public house was genuinely unviable as a business or social space for local residents.
- Protection of Heritage Buildings: As a locally listed 19th-century asset, council officials expressed strong objections to demolition, highlighting the loss of architectural character and local historical identity within Plumstead.
- Scale and Density Concerns: Prior design iterations were deemed unsuitable for the surrounding residential context on Timbercroft Lane.
In response to those earlier rejections, a revised proposal was submitted and subsequently withdrawn in 2025. That scheme had attempted a compromise by seeking to retain the original pub building while constructing six additional dwellings on the surrounding parcel of land.
However, following the withdrawal of that layout, the applicant concluded that partial retention was economically unworkable, leading directly to the current proposal for total demolition and nine new dwellings.
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What is the background of this development?
The Who’d a Thought It public house stands as a 19th-century landmark in Plumstead, reflecting the rich industrial and residential expansion of South London during the Victorian era.
For decades, the establishment operated as a prominent neighbourhood venue, providing a gathering space for the local community amidst the surrounding residential streets of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
However, like many suburban drinking establishments across Greater London over the past two decades, the venue faced mounting commercial pressures, leading to its eventual closure and subsequent abandonment. Left vacant, the site progressively fell into a state of severe disrepair, transforming the locally listed heritage building into a derelict structure.
The decline of the venue coincided with increasing demand for residential housing across Greenwich. Over the last five years, property developers have repeatedly identified 7 Timbercroft Lane as a prime opportunity for infill housing development.
This ongoing tension between preserving 19th-century architectural heritage and providing modern housing units has made the site a focal point for regional planning policy discussions.
How could this development affect the local community?
If Greenwich Council grants planning permission for the demolition and construction of nine new homes, the decision will impact several key stakeholder groups across the Plumstead area:
- Local Residents and Neighbours: The clearance of a long-term derelict site could eliminate a source of blight and potential anti-social behaviour along Timbercroft Lane. Conversely, neighbours may experience temporary disruption during the anticipated year-long construction process, along with long-term changes to local street parking and residential density.
- Heritage Advocates and Historians: The total removal of a locally listed 19th-century building represents a permanent loss of historic fabric within the borough. Community advocates who value local heritage may view the decision as a negative precedent for other threatened historic buildings across South London.
- Prospective Homebuyers: The addition of nine residential properties directly addresses the ongoing demand for housing within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, providing new accommodation options in an established residential neighbourhood.
- Local Authority and Town Planners: A final decision on this fourth application will establish a clear directive regarding how Greenwich Council balances heritage conservation policies against urban housing targets when assessing long-vacant commercial properties.
