Southwark Council’s planning committee this week approved King’s College London’s application to build 770 new student bedspaces, affordable homes, a health centre and retail space on the site of the Mulberry Business Park at Canada Water.

King’s College has already publicly expressed an interest in providing a brand new campus  at the adjacent Harmsworth Quays  when the Daily Mail printworks leaves the site.

The approved development will provide four blocks of buildings of between four and nine storeys, made up of 770 student bedrooms with related living/kitchen and communal spaces; 33 affordable homes; 610sqm retail uses and a new health centre. Also granted for the site is 75sqm area of retail or alternate non-residential institutional use, 4,490sqm offices, associated car parking, cycle parking and landscaped public realm as well as new vehicular and pedestrian access. Of the 33 affordable homes, 23 will be social rented, 10 intermediate.

Councillor Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “King’s College is an internationally renowned and respected university of great standing and I welcome them to an exciting part of the borough, this can only add to the progress made as part of the Area Action Plan, including the new super-library, new homes and public space.

“Last night’s decision supports the council’s aspirations to create a vibrant town centre for Canada Water and opens doors to the potential for a new campus in the adjacent Harmsworth Quays area. I look forward to what the students will bring to the area and hope that they will make it their permanent home in years to come.”

As well as the student accommodation, the agreement includes spaces for learning, places to shop, new cycle parking, play areas for children and landscaping.