Kidbrooke, SE3
Kidbrooke is a large residential district in south London in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Adjacent to Blackheath and Greenwich and bordering Lewisham, most of the Kidbrooke area resembles a typical, early 1920s and 1930s London suburb with self-contained family homes.
Kidbrooke, like Blackheath and Greenwich, enjoys a fantastic network of parks and an impressive waterway. In the heart of the district are the new Cator Park and Sutcliffe Park. The green area extends north onto Blackheath Park and Greenwich Park. The two rivers that define the district are Quaggy River and Kid Brook.
In the last decade, Kidbrooke has become an attractive ‘new homes’ destination opening many housing options for the young growing city population. Kidbrooke Village, the largest housing regeneration project in the area, has attracted new investments into active lifestyle amenities and local transport facilities in the district.
History
'Kidbrooke’ is an Anglo-Saxon name given to the area for its intricate network of streams, brooks and canals. The urban development of the predominantly rural land started with the opening of the Kidbrooke Station in 1895. The area population growth advanced further following the construction of the Rochester Way road network in the 1930s.
During WW2, Kidbrooke was an RAF base which was used for making barrage balloons against low-flying airplanes. During the Cold War, the location was at the centre of counterintelligence.
After WW2, the largest housing estate built in Kidbrooke was Ferrier Estate. Completed in the 1970s it was housing 5,000 residents. This typical 1970s, high-rise concrete estate was rundown within three decades and was subsequently demolished.
Planning permission to radically change and revitalise the site of the Ferrier Estate was given to Berkeley Homes in 2009. The developer and the Royal Borough of Greenwich produced a master plan proposal for Kidbrooke Village, a new south London neighbourhood surrounded by parks and open green spaces. The first new homes were completed in 2010, and by 2031 the development should deliver over 5,000 new homes, amenities and facilities.
Culture
A distinctive new cultural centre has been developed within the Kidbrooke Village. Set in Pegler Square, this lively village core runs events and festivals throughout the year. The square is home to a monthly farmers market and, Sainsbury’s Local supermarket, The Depot (Young’s Pub), Starbucks, PureGym, Fennies Nursery, Drury 188-189 café and YoHome Oriental supermarket.
Kidbrooke has approximately 136 acres of parkland, meadows and wetlands.The award-winning, new Cator Park has been given the prestigious 'Sir David Attenborough Award for Enhancing Biodiversity', and the 'Overall President's Award' at the Landscape Institute Awards. A precious diverse habitat in the middle of the district, the park has been maintained and protected in partnership with London Wildlife Trust. In the heart of the park is a 2.7-acre North Adventure Playground for children, an example of a highly sustainable and environmentally friendly designed play space.
The River Quaggy runs through the adjacent Sutcliffe Park, which is also home to a nature reserve. Opened as a public park in 1937, this well-maintained green space has a dynamic visitor centre with an array of sports and catering facilities.
The nearest neighbouring district to Kidbrooke is Blackheath. A wealth of attractive independent shops, including a bookseller, fishmonger, greengrocer, butcher, baker and wine merchant can be found at the established Blackheath Village. Kidbrooke Village is also conveniently placed to benefit from the heritage and culturally rich Greenwich Village nearby. As one of the largest areas of open land in London, the heath itself is a wonderful place for walking and cycling.
New home developments
Kidbrooke Village (Berkeley Homes)
City Point was the first phase launched at Kidbrooke Village, setting the standard with a range of contemporary apartments next to Sutcliffe Park.
Blackheath Quarter phase expanded housing choices with family homes and apartments overlooking the newly created Cator Park.
Meridian Gate was the next neighbourhood to be added to the Village, comprising stylish apartments and houses centrally located between Sutcliffe Park and Cator Park.
Kidbrooke Village Centre is the latest development phase of Kidbrooke Village. It is at the very heart of the development and offers a collection of modern one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments set around a stunning village square.
Kidbrooke Square (Notting Hill Genesis)
A collection of modern new homes in a mixed scheme set around a village square. Amenities include a nursery, shops and offices. The neighbourhood is set next door to Kidbrooke Village and benefits from excellent choice of open green spaces and parks.
Designed by Glenn Howells Architects the four-acre site will have six buildings and deliver more than 600 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Council: Greenwich
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Transport (Zone 3):
Kidbrooke railway station serves trains to London Bridge, Waterloo East, Charing Cross, and Victoria.
Trains from Kidbrooke station run also to Lewisham from where there are DLR trains to Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Stratford, and London City Airport.
Busses:
B16 to Bexleyheath and Eltham
178 to Lewisham Station and Woolwich Arsenal
335 to North Greenwich
Pedestrian and cycle routes run through and from Kidbrooke Village.
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