Category Archives: Planning

Sellar teams up with Notting Hill for Decathlon site redevelopment

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Work will begin this autumn on the development of more than 1,000 homes on the Decathlon site at Canada Water.

Southwark councillors approved the plans for the development – which includes a 40-storey tower – at the end of last year.

Now the developer Sellar has signed an agreement with Notting Hill Housing to work together on the scheme which will provide:

  • 453 homes for private sale
  • 346 home for private rent
  • 69 shared ownership homes
  • 162 homes to be let at ‘Affordable Rent’

Kate Davies, Chief Executive of Notting Hill Housing, said: “Following a detailed discussion process, we are pleased to confirm that contracts have now been signed and Notting Hill Housing will work with Sellar Design & Development to deliver over 1,000 homes through an exciting new partnership.

“The project at Canada Water will not only introduce properties to buy in Southwark, but it will also provide a much-needed boost to the rental options in the area.

“It marks a significant move in our ambition to create more quality new homes across central London and, in particular, to expand our ‘open market rent’ portfolio.

“This scheme will represent our largest ever development of new rental homes and will increase our exciting offering by almost 50 per cent.”

James Sellar, chief executive of Sellar Design & Development and son of Shard developer Irivine, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Notting Hill Housing; a leading provider of rented homes in the capital. The scheme will provide a truly striking development in the heart of a previously overlooked part of London as well as creating a new town centre for Canada Water.

“Over the past three years we have worked closely with local residents and Southwark Council to meet everyone’s aspirations for the site and to provide a focal point for both the existing community and the new residents that will be attracted to Canada Water over the next five years or so.”

Southwark Park athletics track: council pledges £2.63m

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There’s been a lot of political argy-bargy between Labour and the Lib Dems about future plans for Southwark Park’s athletics track in recent months.

This week the (Labour) cabinet approved the borough’s updated capital programme which includes £2.63 million for works at the track.

Here’s what the report to cabinet says:

Investment is requested for the refurbishment of the existing building at Southwark Park Sports Complex to provide suitable changing and ancillary facilities to support athletics development and the needs of Southwark Park users. The facility is currently in poor condition both internally and externally, and does not deliver in terms of what would be expected of a community sports facility.

Usage figures of this facility are dropping. In the first quarter of 2013 only 95 attendances were recorded.

External funding has been secured for the refurbishment of the athletics facilities (track and field), and the building refurbishment will compliment this by providing quality supporting facilities. The site, following investment, will focus on grass- roots athletics and the development of a Southwark athletics club. Sports development activities will be led by Southwark’s Athletics Activator. There is also an aspiration for the facility to deliver a disability sports programme. Overall £3m will be required of which £370k has already been allocated as part of the OLF programme.

Funding will enable the delivery of a refurbished pavilion including changing facilities for athletics and for sport in the park, specialist athletics coaching facilities and a small gym focusing on support athletics training.

More primary school places needed in Bermondsey & Rotherhithe

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This week Southwark’s cabinet confirmed the permanent expansion of Albion Primary School to two forms of entry from September 2015.

The cabinet also received a report about the future planned demand for school places in the borough.

The report shows that there will be a shortfall of 7.5 to 9 forms of entry in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe (in other words up to 270 reception places) by September 2016.

Strong hints were dropped that we will see plans for a new primary school in SE16 emerge this summer, after the hiatus caused by the local elections.

Listen to audio of the two cabinet items relating to school places:

listen to ‘More school places needed in north-east Southwark, says council’ on Audioboo

Harmsworth Quays: we offered to match best price, says Southwark Council

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Southwark Council’s Richard Livingstone answered a public question about Harmsworth Quays from local resident Jerry Hewitt at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.

Listen to the question and answer:

listen to ‘Southwark Council: Daily Mail wouldn’t sell Harmsworth Quays leasehold to us’ on Audioboo

Meanwhile British Land’s consultation events start this week – details on the SE16 Print Works website

Boris Johnson ducks Tory question on how Canada Water residents will benefit from development

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Conservative Party London Assembly member Andrew Boff tabled this question to the Mayor:

What would be the main benefits to local residents of the new Opportunity Area that is proposed for Canada Water in the London Plan?

Boris Johnson replied:

Canada Water was previously an Intensification Area. Its redesignation as an Opportunity Area is to reflect the significant amount of development that has taken place there in recent years and to plan strategically for its continued growth.  As well as new residential and retail development, there is also the potential to develop a new science cluster by King’s College.  

Judge for yourself whether that response is an adequate answer to Mr Boff’s question about benefits to residents…

Inside Harmsworth Quays

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Dozens of Rotherhithe residents enjoyed a rare opportunity to look round the former Daily Mail / Evening Standard / Metro print works at Harmsworth Quays on Saturday, courtesy of the site’s new owners British Land.

Southwark-based architects Allies & Morrison have been appointed to design redevelopment proposals.

Preliminary consultation events start later this month – see www.se16printworks.com for details of the first pop-up exhibitions.

Boris designates Canada Water as ‘opportunity area’ with potential for ‘major town centre’ status

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Earlier this month Boris Johnson published his draft ‘Further Alterations to the London Plan‘ – including a proposal to designate Canada Water as an ‘opportunity area’ for further major development.

Under current planning policy, Canada Water is deemed to be an ‘intensification area’.

The Mayor proposes to increase the house-building target for the area from 2,500 to 3,300 homes.

The proposed text of the new policy says:

Subject to retail demand Canada Water may evolve to become a major town centre in the network and the scope for a substantial increase in the minimum new homes target and employment capacity should be explored. There is also potential to develop a new science cluster linked to an academic institution (King’s College).

The Mayor of London said: “London is the greatest place in the world in which to live, work and do business.

“As the capital continues to flourish over the next few years, we will need to create over half a million new jobs and a million more people will have to be housed.

“That’s why it is crucial that we plan strategically for the future, to ensure we have a cleaner, greener, safer city that abounds opportunity, talent and economic activity.”

Public consultation continues till 10 April.