Following the first stage of consultation British Land have been looking at how some of the key issues can be addressed at this early stage – such as creating an active public realm and having a joined-up approach to the area. There were strong calls to improve connections to, from and through Surrey Quays Shopping Centre as well as for an improved retail and leisure offer, that makes more of the water-setting.

As owner of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, British Land are now looking at how this can be achieved. There
is an existing planning permission to extend the shopping centre, however there could be opportunity for a more ambitious solution to help create a more attractive shopping destination that meets and exceeds current needs and connects better with the area.

As the inclusion of the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre is a significant change, British Land and masterplanners Allies & Morrison need to do further work to understand how it could all come forward. This will naturally affect the project timescales and it is anticipated that a combined planning application for the two sites could now be submitted in Spring next year.

The next stage of design will need to consider community aspirations and key issues, as well as Southwark Council’s and the Greater London Authority’s aspirations to create a ‘town centre’ destination in the area.