Woodland Way lies in the eastern portion of Thamesmead, as well as being east of Abbey Wood and north of Belvedere (near what is known as Lower Belvedere, due to its relatively low elevation as compared to Belvedere town centre). The area’s southern boundary follows the Southeastern railway line, while the western boundary is dominated by Southmere Park, meanwhile Norman Road defines the eastern border. The northern part includes the Crossness Southern Marsh and the Crossness Nature Reserve, which together add up to half a kilometre square of one of the last grazing marsh areas in London. The neighbourhood is divided into two portions – north and south of Yarnton Way, which cuts horizontally through the area. South of the road are housing estates, some terraced housing as well as a few schools. North of Yarnton Way, the scene changes dramatically, being dominated by marsh and parkland, as previously mentioned, as well as a few industrial buildings to the east. Small streams and rivers are found in the marshlands, forming a barrier from the Crossness Sewage Treatment Works. In addition, Woodland Way is, as its name suggests, woodlands, which separates the residential areas from the marshland, ensuring that the Sewage Works and the industrial zone remain far away.

Contrary to its surroundings, Thamesmead was actually an area known as the Erith and Plumstead Marshes, and was uninhabited for most of its history due to the marshland being unsuitable for housing. The Royal Arsenal, having had their docks nearby for decades, would release 1000 acres of land to the London City Council in the early 1960s, which gave rise to plans for a massive housing project to ease the massive housing supply shortage of the city at the time. Rubble from the Blitz was used to fill in the marshland, while designs were made to ensure the flats would be safe from flooding, a lot of which revolved around the usage of concrete bridges, and an entire neighbourhood grew out of this area.

Interestingly, after the Greater London Council was abolished in 1986, residents voted in a referendum for Thamesmead to be run by a private trust run by residents, transforming Thamesmead into the first residential estate in the United Kingdom to be run by a private company.

Stanley Kubrick shot his famous A Clockwork Orange here in Thamesmead, thinking that its elevated walkways and concrete tower blocks would be perfect for the futuristic setting he envisioned. Indeed, Thamesmead is a microcosm of the Brutalist-style that dominated London’s architecture scene in the 60s.

Crossness Nature Reserve is part of the Green Chain and is host to many forms of wildlife, including summer migrant birds, water voles, as well as the Shrill carder bee, the UK’s rarest species of bumblebee.

The area’s distance from central London can make it feel rather isolated from the goings on of the inner city. It remains a popular commuter area though, as its transport links into town are reasonably well established.

Peabody recently acquired Gallions, Trust Thamesmead and Tilfen Land, which allowed for a cohesive and holistic plan to redevelop the area for the first time since it was built. Peabody announced a £1 billion programme to regenerate South Thamesmead, building thousands of new homes, a new library as well as a new high street to connect South Thamesmead to Abbey Wood station, which now also serves the Elizabeth Line, making central London only a half an hour train ride away. In 2022, Peabody’s plans were given the green light by Bexley Council. The proposal aims to deliver 1,950 new homes at the South Thamesmead site, with at least 35% of the homes affordable. Peabody will also deliver 3,225 sqm of commercial floor space and enhancements to public open space. It’s important to note that the approved proposal only forms part of the total regeneration scheme Peabody is aiming to deliver, so it’s best to keep an eye out for other new developments in the area!