Greenwich Councillors visited the newly opened Kidbrooke social housing nursery.
The purpose-built nursery can provide for up to 81 children and is located within a 100% social housing scheme built in the area.
The building’s design features bright and spacious rooms with high ceilings and large windows. The goal being to create a calm, safe and accessible setting for learning, play and exploration.
The building is equipped with secure entrances, CCTV throughout, and sustainable heating and air-filtering systems.
Outdoor learning is also incorporated into the design thanks to a large and secure garden space. This allows ample room for play, exercise, and nature-based learning in a safe setting.
It is currently full for two-year-old places. However, there is good availability for immediate and future starts for younger children and three year olds. The main catchment area covers Kidbrooke (SE3) and SE9, though the nursery accepts children from all across Greenwich.
Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:
“This new nursery on the site of our largest new social housing scheme shows that we are not just building homes, we are creating new neighbourhoods and communities with the high quality and sustainable infrastructure they need to flourish and grow for the future.
“This new facility is custom-built by us to provide everything young minds need to learn and grow, and is located at the heart of a new council-built 100% social housing development which is among the largest in London if not the country.
“Other social housing developments have included retail space and extensive local area improvements, such as a £750,000 investment in parks and open spaces around our new council homes along Rochester Way.
“It’s been a joy to see the young children who are getting a great start in their education thanks to this beautiful new facility.”
The nursery forms part of Kidbrooke Park Road North, a 122-home council housing development delivered with architects HTA Design and contractor Durkan Homes, with Blakeney Leigh acting as employer’s agent.
This development represents the first phase of a wider 452-home social housing programme, which also includes extensive landscaping, children’s play areas, a retail space and an innovative sustainable energy centre.
Developments of this kind are urgently needed, given that, as of 2025 more than 340,000 households were on the Social Housing Register or waiting list, a 2% increase from the previous year.
The government has also been reported as on course to miss the ambitious 1.5 million house building target of this Parliament by 33%, unless dramatic changes are made to social housing policy.
Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, has said.
“An immediate and substantial boost in investment and funding for new affordable homes, particularly those for social rent, is the best way for the government to meet its housing targets”
