Category Archives: Planning

Albion Street regeneration update

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Cllr Norma Gibbes asked this question at council assembly this week:

What progress is the council making with plans for the regeneration of Albion Street?

Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration and corporate strategy, replied:

We have been working in partnership with the local community, in particular the Albion Street Steering Group to significantly progress the regeneration of Albion Street.

To date a number of public realm work packages have been completed at various sites along the street. Also, power points have been installed along the western section of the street that will be used for street markets.

A number of larger scale initiatives are also in train:

  • The procurement of architects to build the replacement of the Albion Street Primary School has commenced. The new building is programmed to be in place by September 2016.
  • We are coming towards the end of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) process in relation to the former public toilets that have been an eyesore and potential health and safety risk for several years.
  • Once the public toilets have been acquired, they will be incorporated into a new pocket park that will be built in front of the Norwegian Church. Officers are in detailed discussions with the church to include their land in the new facility and for the church to make a contribution towards the cost of this new piece of public realm.
  • Work to create a popup shop is nearing completion and the property will soon be let. The shop will be available on a short term basis to community groups, cultural organisations and business start-ups.
  • The former Rotherhithe Library has been included in phase 2 of the Housing Direct Delivery programme and the design proposal will include community or commercial space on the ground floor.
  • Discussions are ongoing with the Albion Street Surgery to assist them to find a new home and move out of their current, not-fit-for-purpose facility. The preferred option at the moment is to relocate the surgery into the ground floor of the redeveloped Rotherhithe Library site.
  • Court action is underway to complete the purchase of three dilapidated and unsightly houses, 71, 73 and 75 Albion Street. Once we have control of the houses the site will be brought back into beneficial use.

Albion Street council housing development could include new GP surgery

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The following question was tabled for this week’s council assembly by Cllr Lisa Rajan (Lib Dem)

Does he believe it was appropriate for the consultation on the demolition of Albion Street Library and Civic Centre to take place over the Christmas period after official notice of the proposed work was given on 19 December 2013? What account has it taken of the 622 petition signatures already submitted to the council opposing the plans?

Council leader Peter John (Labour) replied:

The proposal to demolish Albion Street Library is a long standing one with considerable time for public engagement.

The property was declared surplus to requirements in April 2011. In December 2012 the cabinet approved a project mandate that seeks to bring forward a programme of strategically important projects along Albion Street. One of these is the redevelopment of the redundant council owned public library building. It is proposed to demolish the building and provide a housing development as part of the council’s commitment to deliver 11,000 new council homes in the next 25 years. To give effect to this, the site was included in the Direct Delivery Housing Phase 2 report which was agreed by cabinet on 22 October 2013. The council is also seeking to provide improved GP premises at the site which would replace the existing facility in Albion Street.

The proposals for the library site have been the subject of extensive consultation with local residents and the Albion Street Steering Group. The proposals from Sublime Arts Group were considered by cabinet in December [sic] as part of a deputation on the matter, however it was concluded that while they have some interesting ideas the organisation did not have a funded business plan which would justify omitting this site from the direct delivery programme which will deliver new affordable homes for rent to meet a well established local need. The security of the building continues to be a significant cost to the council and its early demolition is considered necessary to reduce these ongoing liabilities and risks. 

Mayor approves 19-storey tower in Rotherhithe New Road

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 Mayor of London Boris Johnson has approved a planning application for a 19-storey tower in Rotherhithe New Road despite his “concerns” about the scheme’s design.

The development – designed by HLM Architects – includes 158 homes, space for the Southwark Free School (a 450-place primary school), a new sixth-form centre for the City of London Academy as well as facilities for the Bede House charity.

The applicant is SCCD Developments which describes itself a family-run local business owned by Tom and Donna Pratt, proprietors of Southwark Metals.

The site is at the southern end of Rotherhithe New Road, close to Old Kent Road and St James’s Road.

Southwark Council’s planning committee turned down the application in June for a range of reasons including overdevelopment, inadequate affordable housing and poor architecture.

 In July Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced he was to to ‘take over’ the application. On Thursday this week he held a hearing to receive representations for and against the proposal.

Introducing the scheme, Greater London Authority planner Lucy Bird said that the tower would provide a ‘distinctive landmark’ for the area.

However, Southwark Council planning officer Bridin O’Connor told the Mayor that “this is the wrong development in the wrong place”, highlighting concerns about loss of industrial space,  the “wholly incongruous” tall building, the very high density of the proposals, road safety and other transport impacts.

Catherine Stevens, governor of Southwark Free School, explained that the school currently operates from the Ledbury Estate tenants’ and residents’ hall and currently only has eight pupils in its reception class due to lack of space.

The hearing was also addressed by Richard Bannister, principal of the City of London Academy, who said that by moving his sixth form centre to Rotherhithe New Road he would be able to expand capacity in years 7 to 11 at the school’s existing Lynton Road campus.

Sean Tickle, the developer’s agent, claimed that the scheme represents an “innovative approach to mixed-use development” and noted that this had been recognised with a commendation in this year’s New London Awards.

Announcing that he was minded to approve the scheme, the Mayor noted that this was a “very difficult case” but “on balance” he would accept his officers’ recommendation to back the development.

Sainsbury’s Local to replace Castello restaurant in Jamaica Road?

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Sainsbury’s has submitted an application for advertisement consent (13/AP/4192) to Southwark Council to install a new shopfront and cash machine at 192-196 Jamaica Road.

The premises is currently occupied by the long-established Castello Italian restaurant.

A new Tesco Metro store is due to open at the junction of Jamaica Road and Abbey Street early in the New Year.

Southwark Council approves Canada Water Area Action Plan

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The revisions to Southwark’s planning policy for Canada Water to take into account the impact of the closure of the Harmsworth Quays print works were approved last night by a meeting of the full council.

The revised document  – which paves the way for more high-rise developments at Canada Water – was opposed by local Lib Dem councillors.

listen to ‘Canada Water Area Action Plan at Council Assembly’ on Audioboo

The documents are available here.

Sainsbury’s Local opens at Canada Water

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The new Sainsbury’s Local store at the bottom of the Ontario Point tower, Canada Water, opened its doors on Tuesday morning.

The store is Sainsbury’s first foray into SE16, with the nearest branches being at Bermondsey Square and New Cross.

The shop is larger than many of the local convenience stores. Indeed, the size of the trading area means that its  opening hours are restricted by Sunday trading legislation.

Sainsbury’s Local Canada Water is open Monday-Saturday 7am-11pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.

Albion Street ‘sustainability centre’ idea debated by Southwark cabinet

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Last month we reported on a controversial proposal to turn the former Rotherhithe Library in Albion Street into a ‘sustainability centre’.

Sublime Magazine attracted more than 500 signatures on its petition to Southwark Council urging the authority to reconsider its plans to demolish the old library to make way for new council housing and shops.

The petition was discussed on Tuesday at Southwark’s November cabinet meeting.

listen to ‘Sustainability Centre for old Rotherhithe Library: Southwark cabinet receives petition’ on Audioboo

Harmsworth Quays: university campus, homes and a new leisure centre for Canada Water?

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listen to ‘Southwark Cabinet discusses Harmsworth Quays development’ on Audioboo

Southwark’s cabinet has agreed to enter a cooperation agreement with British Land and King’s College London to work towards the development of a major new university campus and hundreds of new homes at Harmsworth Quays, the former Daily Mail print works.

The scheme is likely to include council homes towards the authority’s target of 11,000 new units.

“I think we also have the potential to deliver a new leisure centre for Rotherhithe,” said Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration. The new centre – on Harmsworth Quays or another site – would replace the “crumbling” Seven Islands complex.

Cabinet is due to receive a further report in the spring.

Green light for Sellar’s 40-storey tower at Decathlon site

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Southwark’s planning committee this week resolved to grant outline planning permission for Sellar’s proposed development of a 40-storey tower on the site of the Decathlon store at Canada Water.

The scheme includes a new Decathlon store, more than 1,000 homes, a cinema and other facilities.

Local Lib Dem councillor Lisa Rajan spoke against the scheme at the committee meeting, raising concerns about increased density, impact on traffic and lack of affordable housing.

Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration and planning, said: “The new homes, with their bold and exciting architecture will replace the lifeless, out-of town, retail-park look the area is associated with.

“The new Decathlon store will be retained as an anchor to the town centre we’re beginning to see emerge. This approval will help to realise the vision of the area action plan to create a new heart for Rotherhithe.”