Category Archives: Planning

Date set for decision on controversial Southwark Park ‘Alice in Winterland’ event

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Councillors will decide next Tuesday whether or not to grant planning permission for the controversial ‘Alice in Winterland‘ commercial event due to take over part of Southwark Park from November to January.

The scheme is on the agenda for planning sub-committee B on Tuesday 30 October.

In his report to the committee, planning officer Alex Cameron concludes: “Overall, given the temporary nature of the proposal, it is not considered that it would affect the long term openness of Southwark Park and would provide facilities for outdoor recreation. While the development is not strictly an appropriate one on [Metropolitan Open Land], it is acceptable  considering it would be temporary and the benefits to the local community.”

Nearly 500 people have signed a petition opposing the event, but others – including the Friends of Southwark Park – are supportive. 

Full details of the planning application are at 18/AP/2766.

Canada Water Masterplan: City Hall responds

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Earlier this month the Greater London Authority published its initial response to the massive Canada Water masterplan planning application that is currently being considered by the council.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan delegated the decision to his deputy mayor for planning Jules Pipe.

Unsurprisingly British Land’s plans are “strongly supported in strategic planning terms”. 

Equally unsurprisingly, transport issues are one of the main sticking points. 

You can read the 27-page report by GLA planners here.

Canada Water towers ‘could spoil views of Tower Bridge and St Paul’s’

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Historic England – the Government’s heritage watchdog – says that the tall buildings proposed in the Canada Water masterplan would have “a profound and far-reaching impact on the London skyline” and would harm the setting of two of the capital’s most famous landmarks.

Historic England’s Alasdair Young wrote: “… we have identified the impact of the development in views along the northern half of London Bridge towards the Grade I listed Tower Bridge as being particularly harmful.

“This is because the cluster of tall buildings, as accentuated by the 162m tower in Plot D would block the silhouette of Tower Bridge’s south bastion in kinetic views along London Bridge, visually competing with its monumental character and reducing its landmark status along the Thames.”

Historic England is also concerned about the impact on the protected view of St Paul’s Cathedral from Greenwich Park.

“We consider that the encroachment created by the tall buildings would cause harm to the landmark status of St Paul’s Cathedral,” wrote Mr Young.

He adds that the proposed tall buildings would also spoil the view of the spire of St Mary’s Church in Rotherhithe from Waterside Gardens in Wapping.

The watchdog acknowledges that the proposed tall buildings “largely” [their italics] accord with local planning policy.

Read Historic England’s comments in full here.

The townscape assessment documents referred to in the HE response are available on the planning file for the masterplan application.

 

TfL comments on transport implications of Canada Water masterplan

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Transport for London has submitted its initial comments on the implications of British Land’s massive Canada Water masterplan for local roads and railways.

A few key points from the 13-page letter:

  • The Elizabeth line will provide some relief (in the short to medium term) on the Jubilee line.
  • The proposed Bakerloo line extension to Lewisham, proposed to be operational in the late 2020s, is expected to relieve London Overground services north of New Cross Gate, and reduce the interchange demand at Canada Water station.
  • TfL hopes to be able to raise frequencies on the East London line from 16 trains per hour at present to 20 trains per hour.
  • Surrey Quays Station will need upgrading/expanding to cope with extra passengers from the new development – potentially with a new entrance
  • “TfL would support provision of Santander Cycles cycle hire docking stations in the masterplan area, as well as off-site, to help ‘link’ to the current central London zone at London Bridge, acknowledging that further contributions from other developments in Canada Water and Bermondsey will be required to do this.”
  • The design of Redriff Road will need to take into account the proposed Peckham- Rotherhithe cycle route

You can read TfL’s letter here and see all the Canada Water masterplan application documents at 18/AP/1615.

SE16 locals offered paid work experience with architects working on Canada Water masterplan

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GoodPeople are working with architects Allies and Morrison to recruit two paid work placements to join the practice for two weeks starting on 10 September 2018.

These opportunities will provide valuable experience in Business Support functions such as HR, Finance, IT and Facilities. The work placements are available to people between the ages of 18 and 65 who live in the Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks areas and are currently unemployed or economically inactive.

Full details her: Allies and Morrison Sep 18 Work Placements – Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks.

Getting to grips with the Canada Water Masterplan

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Hundreds of homes, shops, hotels, offices, a nightclub, a cinema, student accommodation, hotel, health, education … there’s a lot to get to grips with in the new Canada Water Masterplan planning application.

As we’ve previously noted, the paperwork runs to more than 200 documents.

To help local residents take advantage of their opportunity to respond to the planning application, Southwark CAN and Southwark Law Centre have drawn up this useful guide.

British Land themselves are also running drop-in sessions where you can view the documents.

And the next Canada Water Consultative Forum is another opportunity to get up to speed with the project.

British Land submits Canada Water planning application

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These new images show how Canada Water could look if British Land’s major planning application gets the go-ahead.

 

British Land has entered into a Master Development Agreement with Southwark Council and submitted an outline planning application for the Canada Water Masterplan.

The outline submission also includes a detailed planning application for the project’s first three buildings, which include workspace, homes (of which 35 per cent will be affordable), retail and a new leisure centre. The first three buildings are located on parts of the site which are currently overflow car parks for Surrey Quays Shopping Centre alongside the edge of Canada Water itself, as well as the vacant site at Robert’s Close.

Subject to planning approvals, construction of the first aspects of the masterplan could begin in spring 2019.

The Master Development Agreement provides a framework for delivery of the Masterplan, pools Southwark Council and British Land’s freehold and leasehold interests across the site and allows a new 500-year lease to be drawn down.

This agreement also confirms the local authority’s stake in the project, and their right to invest up to 20% in each forthcoming plot; the agreement also confirms the location of a new leisure centre as part of the proposals.

Roger Madelin, Head of Canada Water Development, British Land, said: “We are delighted to have entered into a Master Development Agreement with Southwark Council and submitted our planning application for the Canada Water Masterplan which marks an important milestone in the delivery of this project.

“Drawing on our experience of creating vibrant, mixed-use places across the capital, this major urban centre at Canada Water will provide an exciting place to live, work and visit, delivering high quality design, active spaces and significant economic and social benefits for the local community.

“We have worked closely with Southwark Council and the local residents of Canada Water to achieve this important first step, and will continue to work with them to enable a truly cultural and diverse neighbourhood for London.”

Cllr Peter John, leader of Southwark Council, said: “It is fantastic to see this project moving forward. British Land have done great work to consult and engage with local people and the resulting Masterplan will deliver what local people want to see, including a guaranteed 35 per cent affordable housing split 70 per cent social rent and 30 per cent shared ownership in the first phase, new retail spaces and job opportunities, education and health facilities and a brand new leisure centre.

“In addition British Land, in conjunction with the council, has committed to a Social Regeneration Charter which will ensure that the lives of existing local residents will be improved by the project which we believe to be a first for a project such as this.

“People will be able to see the proposals and make further comments through the planning procedure, so there is still time to get involved and help create the future of Canada Water.”

The planning application has not yet been ‘validated’ by Southwark Council and the documents should be available on the council’s website in the next few weeks.