Greenwich Council is set to demolish the historic Waterfront Leisure Centre in Woolwich and replace it with a new leisure facility and residential towers, marking a key phase in the area’s ongoing regeneration and housing strategy.
Greenwich Council is set to demolish the Waterfront Leisure Centre in Woolwich, a facility that has served the community for 30 years, once the new Woolwich Waves leisure centre opens. Situated on a 2.25-acre site by the Thames near the Woolwich Ferry south dock, the aging building is earmarked for clearance to make way for housing development as part of the ongoing regeneration of Woolwich. The council’s cabinet is scheduled to discuss the demolition and future sale of the site on November 19. The intention is to avoid issues often associated with vacant buildings, such as anti-social behaviour and security costs, and to ensure the land’s repurposing proceeds through a transparent and competitive sale, securing best value for the borough.
Woolwich Waves, the new flagship leisure centre, was named following a public vote earlier this year, where the community selected the winning title out of three options. The centre, which is expected to open next month, promises a state-of-the-art facility including an eight-lane 25-metre swimming pool, water slides, a two-floor gym, a health suite with a spa and sauna, sports halls, and various community amenities such as a soft play area and café. The council emphasises that Woolwich Waves is a central component of the broader Woolwich regeneration strategy, which also features improvements to local cultural venues like the refurbishment of Tramshed Theatre and the opening of Woolwich Works, aiming to enhance the town centre’s appeal for residents, visitors, and businesses.
Beyond the leisure centre, the redevelopment plan includes constructing several residential tower blocks on the site once occupied by the Waterfront Leisure Centre, aiming to deliver hundreds of new homes. Initial planning consent granted in 2022 covered 482 homes with a target of 35% affordable housing, although recent developments have seen adjustments. Notably, plans for 51 council homes behind Woolwich Waves were scrapped in mid-2025 due to changes in building regulations that rendered the original scheme financially unviable. The council has shifted towards providing affordable housing of unspecified tenure instead, a move that sparked concerns about the reduction in council housing provisions, especially important given the demolition of the nearby Troy Court block for over-55s residents.
The redevelopment aligns with both Greenwich Council and the Mayor of London’s affordable housing targets, underscoring housing provision as a crucial aspect of the area’s regeneration. Moreover, the site’s proximity to local landmarks like the Woolwich Foot Tunnel, which has a rotunda behind the Waterfront facility, raises potential for integrating or highlighting these historic features within the new housing development.
Greenwich Council presents the closure of the Waterfront Leisure Centre and the transition to Woolwich Waves as a strategic, long-term plan aimed at delivering modern amenities while meeting the pressing housing needs in the borough. The council’s cabinet is expected to finalise decisions on the old centre’s demolition imminently, marking a significant phase in Woolwich’s transformation.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] (MyLondon) – Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 6, 7
- [2] (Royal Greenwich Council) – Paragraph 3
- [3] (Royal Greenwich Council) – Paragraph 3
- [4] (Royal Greenwich Council) – Paragraph 4, 5
- [5] (Royal Greenwich Council) – Paragraph 1, 6
- [6] (Greenwich Wire) – Paragraph 6, 7
- [7] (Greenwich Wire) – Paragraph 5
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with the latest publication on 13 November 2025. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 12 November 2025. The report is based on a press release from Greenwich Council dated 11 November 2025, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([royalgreenwich.gov.uk](https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/news/2025/update-waterfront-leisure-centre?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from Cllr Majid Rahman in the report match those in the press release dated 11 November 2025. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content. ([royalgreenwich.gov.uk](https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/news/2025/update-waterfront-leisure-centre?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, Greenwich Council, which issued the press release. The report is published by MyLondon, a local news outlet, which is generally considered reliable.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the demolition of the Waterfront Leisure Centre and the opening of the new Woolwich Waves leisure centre are consistent with previous reports and official statements. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a minor concern. The tone and language are consistent with official communications from Greenwich Council.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent and based on a press release from a reputable organisation, with no significant discrepancies or issues identified. The quotes are original, and the source is reliable. The claims are plausible and consistent with previous reports.