About Greenwich Millennium Village
First opened to residents in 2000, this neighbourhood of 15,000 new homes is surrounded by 50 acres of landscaped parkland on the Greenwich Peninsular. It lies just 2 minutes from Canary Wharf by Tube.
A short history
Until the late 19th century, the marshlands of Greenwich Peninsula were home to wildlife and fisheries but when the Blackwall Tunnel was built in 1897 the area started to be developed. Throughout the 20th century, and alongside the gasworks, companies in the peninsula manufactured bronze, asbestos and specialist animal feeds. But by the 1980s, with the discovery of North Sea gas, changing production methods meant that many of these industries became obsolete and most of the peninsula fell into disuse.
Exactly one hundred years after the Blackwall Tunnel opened, the Greater London Authority bought 300 acres of land on the peninsula with the aim of enhancing the transport network and developing a community of homes and parks. Construction work started on the Millennium Dome (now the 02) ready for the millennium celebrations. New roads, cycle paths and river walks were opened up and, in 1999, the new underground station opened on the Jubilee line at North Greenwich.
Green spaces and going out
As part of the redevelopment of this once industrial site, 48 acres of land has been dedicated to parkland including a new Central Park and an ecology park which has been formed from a 4-acre freshwater wetland site. This comprises two lakes and areas of beach marsh and meadow with a network of wooden boardwalks and bird hides. The Tide is London’s first elevated riverside linear park which, when finished, will stretch 5km around the peninsula.
For fans of sailing, the Greenwich Yacht Club was formed in 1980 and has extensive moorings for vessels up to 12m in length. Residents have a wide selection of shops and cafes around the O2 Arena, alongside a multiplex cinema and busy programme of concerts. Further shops and restaurants are in Canary Wharf are a two-minute Tube ride away.
Transport
North Greenwich is on the Jubilee line and trains take 2 minutes to Canary Wharf, 9 minutes to London Bridge and 17 minutes to Bond Street.
Did you know?
£8.4 billion has been invested in this new London district which is twice the size of Soho.
