The fate of a 17-storey tower looming over Deptford Creek will be decided in the new year, councillors have confirmed.

A Planning Board meeting emptied out on Wednesday night (December 19) as chairwoman Sarah Merrill confirmed a decision would be made in 2019 for 145 homes at Saxon Wharf.

Notting Hill Genesis has proposed demolishing a skip storage site to build 145 houses in Norman Road.

The developer has also included space for shops, restaurants and bars, and plans to extend the Deptford Creek River Walk.

The area is dominated by high-rise buildings on both sides of the creek, and if this scheme gets the green light it will be built near enough opposite to a 23-storey tower over the water.

The homes would be built over two buildings, one 13-storey and another with 17, overshadowing the next-door nine-storey Caledonian Point.

Planners at the council have earmarked the scheme for approval, despite more than 30 objections filed against it.

However, councillors voted unanimously to push the scheme back, instead proposing a site visit in January.

The building would be close to the listed railway viadu, and would overlook the award winning Laban dance centre.

Of the 145 proposed homes, 48.2 per cent would be affordable – with a total of 35 London affordable rented units and 35 intermediate units.

The scheme was revised after conversations with the Greater London Authority.

The majority of flats would be two-bed, with a mix of 50 one-bed and 23 three-bedroom homes.