West Thamesmead

West Thamesmead sits on the Greenwich side of the Thamesmead estate, built on former marshland that required extensive ground-raising and water management. The area is organised around Southmere Lake, a large rectangular reservoir that was inserted into the original 1960s plan as both a drainage feature and a public open space. Houses, low-rise flats and council terraces face onto the lake or onto linked green corridors, and a grid of paths and bridges crosses the water system that was designed to control tides and runoff on the reclaimed ground.

Community facilities cluster close to the lake: the Southmere Centre, playgrounds, and a library serve local residents while allotments and pocket parks sit between housing blocks. Recent regeneration has replaced some 20th-century blocks with new homes and upgraded public realm, while local groups run sports and riverside volunteer projects. The area’s character is shaped by its engineered waterways and the way streets step down toward the lake, rather than by tall buildings or a single commercial centre.