"The completion of The Heights development marks a significant milestone, demonstrating our agility and commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable homes in the UK"
- Thomas Vandecasteele - Legendre UK
Pocket Living has completed 48 discounted homes in Charlton through a project backed by the London Borough of Greenwich, the Mayor of London, and contractor Legendre UK.
The development, known as The Heights, includes 45 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments. All homes are priced at a 20% discount compared to the local market rate and are available exclusively to local residents.
Designed by architecture practice Gibson Thornley, the scheme includes a communal garden, private balconies and a shared rooftop terrace overlooking London’s skyline. The building was constructed using a low-carbon Light Gauge Steel Frame system, brick facades and an all-electric heating solution. These design choices are aimed at minimising carbon emissions while improving long-term energy performance.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the completion of the project. Attendees included Pocket Living chief executive Paul Rickard, Greenwich council leader cllr Anthony Okereke, cabinet member for planning cllr Majid Rahman, Legendre UK managing director Thomas Vandecasteele, and former minister for London Nick Raynsford.
The scheme responds to growing pressure on first-time buyers in the capital. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of first-time buyer mortgages in Greenwich has declined by nearly 25% since 2013. London is no longer the UK’s leading region for this category of lending.
The Heights adds to Pocket Living’s growing portfolio across the city. With this latest development, the company has now delivered more than 1,700 homes in London through the Mayor’s affordable housing programme.
Paul Rickard said, “The Heights is a powerful example of what’s possible on a challenging small site. Despite these obstacles, we’ve delivered high-quality, affordable homes for people who are otherwise priced out of the open market. The government has made clear the importance of small site delivery, yet since 2017, the number of small schemes (50–100 homes) securing planning permission has dropped by 30%. If we’re serious about tackling the housing crisis, reversing this trend and unlocking the potential of small sites must be a priority.”
Thomas Vandecasteele added, “The completion of The Heights development marks a significant milestone, demonstrating our agility and commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable homes in the UK. As a contractor, we are proud to play our role of delivering affordable housing for the benefit of first-time buyers in Greenwich. As our third completed project with Pocket Living, it’s a true testament to our partnership and highlights the pivotal role of collaboration in navigating challenging market conditions and boosting housing delivery.”
Ben Gibson, co-founding director at Gibson Thornley, said, “It has been great to work collaboratively with Pocket Living to design and deliver a best-in-class, sustainable development. The Heights has repurposed a left-over piece of the city transforming the edge of an existing estate to enhance the neighbourhood, and provide high-quality and affordable housing for those within the borough.”
