A £31.5m cultural scheme by Bennetts Associates in south-east London intended to rival the Southbank Centre has been given the green light.

Five grade II*- and II-listed buildings within the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich will be transformed into a 15,000sq m creative hub including large-scale concert venues, rehearsal and studio spaces, offices, restaurants and a base for theatre companies.

Phase 1a and 1b of the scheme, known as the Woolwich Creative District, was actually given planning last October but Greenwich council only announced the news this week after London theatre company Punchdrunk agreed to take space at the complex.

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