Property

Bexley Council's Erith Post Office development faces criticism over absence of affordable housing

Saturday, 8 November 2025 5:02AM UTC

Plans to demolish the 1930s Erith Post Office and replace it with a no-affordable-housing residential scheme have sparked community concerns and political opposition amid financial viability challenges.

Bexley Council is moving forward with plans to demolish the 1930s Erith Post Office and replace it with a 33-flat residential development that will include no affordable housing units. The council-owned housing developer, BexleyCo, has proposed a part three, part six-storey building featuring one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments. Despite the council’s usual policy target of securing 50% affordable housing in new developments, it has been determined that this project will not provide any affordable units due to financial viability concerns.

The existing locally listed brick façade of the 1933 Post Office is set to be retained and integrated into the new building, which will also include two commercial units on the ground floor. Additionally, residents of the new flats would have access to a communal courtyard and a roof terrace offering views over the Thames. The building is located at the corner of Erith High Street and Bexley Road, adjacent to Erith station.

A financial viability assessment submitted in June initially predicted that the council would face a substantial £1.5 million loss once all units were sold. An updated review in August softened this figure considerably, but it still indicated that the development would lose £113,000. This shortfall has been cited by the council as the justification for not including any affordable housing in the project.

Erith Councillor Chris Ball has voiced strong opposition to the omission of affordable housing, describing it as a "clear breach of policy" and a "deeply concerning message." Speaking publicly, he emphasised the urgent need for affordable homes in both London and Bexley, arguing that financial viability cannot be an acceptable reason to overlook this need. The local community has expressed wider concerns about the development, including objections relating to the loss of the Post Office, the height of the new building, and inadequate parking provision. The Bexley Civic Society also opposed the plan, highlighting the impact on Erith's Riverside Conservation area and criticising the failure to retain distinctive features such as a curved brick wall that contributes to the building’s character.

Planners from Bexley Council have noted that the proposed commercial units could potentially accommodate a Post Office, but they stressed that whether a Post Office returns to the site would be at the discretion of the Post Office company itself.

This development follows other recent initiatives by BexleyCo, including a larger 70-flat scheme near Erith station on Walnut Tree Road, which similarly failed to include affordable housing due to viability issues. Meanwhile, other development projects in Bexley, like the Erith Quarry and Park East regeneration schemes, have incorporated a significant proportion of affordable homes with council nomination rights, indicating a mixed approach in the borough’s housing strategy.

While the council aims to increase housing supply, the lack of affordable units in this specific project is stirring debate over balancing financial constraints with local housing policy goals and community needs.

📌 Reference Map:

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^[5] (Bexley Home Choice) - Paragraph 8
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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/south-london-council-wants-knock-32826970 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/bexley-and-bromley/news/council-wants-to-replace-1930s-post-office-with-flats-but-332274/ - Bexley Council plans to demolish the 1930s Erith Post Office and replace it with a 33-flat development, comprising one one-bedroom apartment, 24 two-bedroom flats, and eight three-bedroom units. The development will retain the building's locally listed brick façade and include two commercial units on the ground floor. Despite the council's policy of 50% affordable housing in new developments, this project will not include any affordable units due to a projected £113,000 loss. Councillor Chris Ball criticised the omission, calling it a 'clear breach of policy'.
https://www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2024/12/20/revealed-erith-post-office-development-from-bexley-developer/ - BexleyCo, the council's housing developer, has unveiled plans for a 33-flat development at 89 Erith High Street, adjacent to Erith station. The proposal includes a four to six-storey building with one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom flats, integrating the existing 1933 brick façade. Despite the council's policy of 50% affordable housing in new developments, this project will not include any affordable units due to financial viability concerns, as the development is projected to result in a £113,000 loss.
https://www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2023/03/29/erith-housing-block-near-station-submitted/ - BexleyCo has submitted plans for a 70-flat development on Walnut Tree Road near Erith station. The proposal includes space for a shop unit beside Bexley College. Despite the housing shortage and high costs for taxpayers due to a lack of social housing, the application states that zero affordable homes are possible. The application mistakenly states that trains run to London Charing Cross, London Bridge, and London Cannon Street, which is no longer the case, and Thameslink services do not stop at Erith.
https://www.bexleyhomechoice.org.uk/Data/Pub/PublicWebsite/ImageLibrary/LLP%20Erith%20%20Quarry%20Bexley.docx.pdf - The Local Lettings Plan for Erith Quarry, a mixed-tenure development in the London Borough of Bexley, comprises shared ownership, London affordable rented units, and private homes for sale. The scheme includes 63 affordable units, with the London Borough of Bexley receiving 100% nomination rights to these properties. The handover to the council for nominations is phased during 2024, with preliminary dates set for May, July, and August.
https://www.bexleyhomechoice.org.uk/Data/Pub/PublicWebsite/ImageLibrary/LLP%20Park%20East%20phase%202.pdf - Park East is a new development in the London Borough of Bexley, consisting of 321 properties, including affordable rented, intermediate rented, and sale properties. The regeneration of the former Arthur Street area is located near the town centre and transport links. The first phase handover of rented units commenced in October 2021, with phase 2 commencing in August 2022. The lettings plan aims to assist with all lettings by Orbit via Bexley Council and clarify allocation decisions.
https://www.bexleyhomechoice.org.uk/Data/Pub/PublicWebsite/ImageLibrary/LLP%20Park%20East%20v2.pdf - Park East is a new development in the London Borough of Bexley, consisting of 321 properties, including affordable rented, intermediate rented, and sale properties. The regeneration of the former Arthur Street area is located near the town centre and transport links. The first phase handover of rented units will commence in October 2021, with handover subject to change. The lettings plan aims to assist with all lettings by Orbit via Bexley Council and clarify allocation decisions.

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 earliest known publication date being 7 November 2025. However, similar content appeared on 20 December 2024, indicating prior coverage. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The earlier version from 2024 mentions a £1.5 million loss, while the 2025 update reports a £113,000 loss, highlighting a significant discrepancy. The 2025 report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged for potential duplication or outdated information.

Bexley Council
Erith Post Office
Affordable Housing