Greenwich Foot Tunnel revamp given the go-ahead

PLANS to give the Greenwich Foot Tunnel a makeover were given the go-ahead last night. A major redevelopment project to improve the Grade II listed pedestrian tunnel connecting the Isle of Dogs to Greenwich under the Thames was given the green light by

PLANS to give the Greenwich Foot Tunnel a makeover were given the go-ahead last night.

A major redevelopment project to improve the Grade II listed pedestrian tunnel connecting the Isle of Dogs to Greenwich under the Thames was given the green light by Tower Hamlets council's Development Committee.

Greenwich council, which partly owns the tunnel with Tower Hamlets council, applied to the Town Hall for permission to give its original Edwardian features a re-vamp, repair the glass domes on the rotunda entrances, add new lifts, repair the cast iron staircases and install CCTV and lighting.

The plans are part of an �11 million project to refurbish both the Greenwich and the Woolwich foot tunnels which together are used by around 1,500,000 pedestrians and cyclists every year.

The cash is coming from the Government's Community Fund and work is expected to be complete in March next year.

The Greenwich tunnel between Millwall's Island Gardens and the Cutty Sark was the first to open by the London County Council in 1902, giving dockers from south London a short route to work at the Millwall Docks on the Isle of Dogs.

It is more than 1,100ft long and 50ft deep.