Southwark’s cabinet has endorsed plans for a £12 million redevelopment of Albion Primary School as part of a wider programme of developments in and around Albion Street.
“The regeneration of Albion Street is a priority for this council and we recognise the concern of local residents about the future of this street as a commercial and retail centre,” said Cllr Mark Williams, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transport.
“It is key that neighbouring regeneration schemes, in particular at Canada Water and Surrey Quays, complement and enhance our plans for Albion Street.
“We will re-invigorate Albion Street by looking at several connected areas, including Albion Primary School; the former Library and improving the public realm.”
He added: We will continue to work with members of the local community, local residents and businesses as we now move forward to drawing up detailed plans and designs for each of these schemes. This is an exciting time for this part of Rotherhithe and the schemes set out in this report will better connect Albion Street with both the River Thames and Canada Water.”
Listen to the audio of the cabinet discussion on Albion Street:
The leader of Southwark Council has suggested that parts of the red crane at Odessa Street could be turned into a work of public art when the site is redeveloped.
Plans – reported here last week – to extend the Thames Path and build new homes on the site of the derelict nightclub and youth club at Odessa Street – were endorsed by the borough’s cabinet on Tuesday.
Surrey Docks ward councillor David Hubber addressed the meeting and called for affordable housing to be provided on-site as part of the proposed development by Hollybrook Homes.
He described the red crane as ‘nothing more than a perch for pigeons’ but asked for heritage concerns to be taken on board.
Listen to the full audio of the cabinet discussion below:
With consultation on the draft Canada Water Master Plan starting this weekend it’s timely that this footage from ITV regional news programme Thames News of the opening of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre in 1988 has appeared on YouTube today.
Plans for a new riverboat pier in Rotherhithe to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower have received a favourable mention – but no promise of funds – from the Government in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.
The government will also discuss plans for a Growth Zone in Croydon, subject to value for money, and continues to support flourishing culture funded through local channels, including the proposal to construct a new pier in Rotherhithe.
“I was pleased to see the Chancellor of the Exchequer mention it in today’s Autumn Statement. Although we are six years away from the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower from England to America, if we are going to have a significant lasting memorial then it is important that plans are in place soon, so that the pier can be in use by commuters, local residents and visitors.
“The Mayflower sailed from Rotherhithe, and its crew came from the area – so it is absolutely right that Rotherhithe be a central part of the celebrations in 2020 and I will keep working to make this happen.”
Next week Southwark’s cabinet will discuss plans to complete a ‘missing link’ in the Thames Path in Rotherhithe.
The council is proposing a deal with Hollybrook Homes for the redevelopment of the run-down former youth centre and nightclub in Odessa Street.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson recently agreed to lift a restrictive covenant dating back to the days of the London Docklands Development Corporation which required the former youth centre site to be used as open space.
Under the plans, the large dockside crane which dominates the site will be removed. The council claims it’s a safety risk because it is often used as a climbing frame and pigeon roost.
Hollybrook Homes will try to find a new home for the crane elsewhere, but if that fails it will be broken up.
When new homes are built on the site, the Thames Path will be extended along the riverside to connect with the closed section at New Caledonian Wharf.
The council report acknowledges that some New Caledonian Wharf residents may object to the Thames Path being reinstated in front of their homes.
Introducing the report to next week’s Southwark cabinet meeting, Cllr Mark Williams, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transport, writes:
The proposal set out in this report will bring together an empty night club and a redundant youth club and subject to the planning process, will deliver a key link in the Thames Footbath, enhanced public realm, much needed housing and generate a capital receipt to be invested back into the borough. The river footpath has been a long standing initiative that is extremely successful enabling local residents and visitors to experience and benefit from the fantastic asset that is the River Thames. This proposal will result in the removal of a blockage in the path in this part of Rotherhithe. Not only that, it will provide a café where walkers will be able to enjoy unique views, and in turn encourage further use of the path.
There will be public consultation both as part of the statutory planning process and in designing the new public realm. This will enable the proposed regeneration to include the views of the local community. The former youth facility that is proposed to be included in the regeneration is being reprovided to a modern and better standard in the new Dockland Settlement facility on Salter Road, so local youth provision will be enhanced.
This proposal is good news not only for the people of Surrey Docks but for the people of Southwark and visitors from across the world – I commend this report to cabinet.
The dead-end section of the Thames Path in front of New Caledonian Wharf will be reopened if the Odessa Street development goes ahead
St Michael’s … was built for 600 students, when it already had 690 students on roll at the time of design. Whilst the school building itself is beautiful and provides an inspiring learning environment, lack of teaching space is proving problematic, and in 2015 there will not be enough classrooms to teach the students. The school currently has 797 pupils on roll.
Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said today: “I can now confirm we have issued the High Court with an application for a Judicial Review into the Secretaries of State’s decision to approve plans for the super sewer in their current form, because of the devastating impact the work will have on the lives of the thousands of people who live, work and go to school around the proposed Chamber’s Wharf tunnel drive site.
“Our position was supported by the findings of the five individual planning inspectors who, after six months of hearing from experts and residents alike, concluded that using Chambers Wharf as a drive site would have very significant impacts on the lives of residents and that Abbey Mills would be a more appropriate site with far less impact. This point was ignored by the Secretaries of State who did not even consider the alternatives put forward and simply felt the need for the project outweighed our concerns about the way Chambers Wharf was being used.
“We have discussed this with legal counsel and believe we have a strong case, but we are under no illusions, we are very much David taking on Goliath. However, unlike the Secretaries of State, we can not simply ignore the devastating impact this work will have on the people living, working and going to school around Chambers Wharf and we are prepared to take this to court in order to get the best possible outcome for them.”
Barney Holbeche, chair of the Save Your Riverside residents’ campaign group, said: “It is very surprising and disappointing that ministers chose to ignore advice from the planning inspectorate and therefore go against the national policy statement on waste water which states that the tunnel should only be given consent if significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life from noise have been avoided. The credibility of the planning process is in doubt because of this decision on the tunnel and we therefore welcome the decision of Southwark Council to question the legalities of it.”
Southwark Council leader Peter John has promised to “bring an end to an eyesore” by demolishing three derelict and “pretty grotty” houses on Albion Street.
The council’s cabinet this week agreed to buy the freehold of the houses at 71, 73 and 75 Albion Street for an undisclosed sum.
In her introduction to the cabinet report, Cllr Fiona Colley wrote: “I’m delighted to bring this report today which represents the beginning of the end of the eyesore that is 71-75 Albion Street. With the purchase of the freehold of the properties we will be able to demolish these long empty, derelict homes and build brand new council homes as part of our 11,000 new council homes.
“This site will become another element of the regeneration of Albion Street with projects including more new council homes on the site of the former library and behind the school, the rebuilding and expansion of Albion School, weekly market and regular Scandinavian Markets and the creation of a new public square outside the beautiful Norwegian Church.
“I have every confidence that Albion Street is on the up!”
Southwark Council says that it is in early discussions with the owners of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre and Harmsworth Quays over plans for a new leisure centre at Canada Water.
In the meantime the council says it will carry out ‘essential repairs and maintenance’ at the existing Seven Islands Leisure Centre.
“I’m delighted that we are in early discussions with British Land about providing a new leisure offer as part of their emerging plans for the area,” said Cllr Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for public health, parks and leisure.
“It is also fantastic to be able to announce these improvement works for the existing centre. I’m sure it will all be an exciting prospect for residents in the area, especially as we look to introduce free gym and swim access for local people.”
The Arch Climbing Wall has announced that it has found a new home within the Biscuit Factory complex as the redevelopment of the site draws near.
“With the original Biscuit Factory site, we were able to bring a new level of indoor bouldering to London and the South,” said Fred Stone, director of The Arch Climbing Wall.
“With Building One, we’re looking forward to doing the same again, only this time in a long term home, combining new climbing facilities unlike anything else, with an updated design style and atmosphere that will recapture some of the history of the building.
“Each of the new climbing centre builds so far has been a learning experience, and we’re looking forward to putting it all together here. This year has been an exciting one for all of us, and there are still lots of good things to come.”
