This week Decathlon has sent this email to holders of its loyalty card:
Category Archives: Planning
British Land buys Surrey Quays Leisure Park for £135 million
British Land has confirmed reports in the property trade press that it has acquired Surrey Quays Leisure Park for £135 million from clients of Aviva Investors.
This purchase means that British Land now owns three key redevelopment sites at Canada Water, including Surrey Quays Shopping Centre and Harmsworth Quays.
Chris Grigg, chief executive of British Land, said: “This acquisition completes our assembly of a significant £2 billion world-class development opportunity in the heart of one of London’s major regeneration zones.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with Southwark Council to create a vibrant new mixed use office, retail and residential campus for Canada Water including a new town centre.”
Jonathan East of Aviva Investors said: ‘We are pleased to have completed the sale of Surrey Quays Leisure Park to British Land which has enabled us to secure a strong return for our policyholders.
“Having laid the groundwork for a comprehensive redevelopment of the site we were able to benefit from the buoyant market for residential sites around London, particularly for such a large site in a recognised area of opportunity.
“Having been involved since funding the original development of the leisure park in 1996, we have witnessed significant changes to Canada Water over the years.
“British Land have ambitious plans for the area and we are happy to hand the baton over to them to progress the comprehensive regeneration.”
Bermondsey tube station: TfL seeks development partner
15 years after the Jubilee line extension opened, Transport for London has launched a search for a development partner to build above Bermondsey Tube Station on Jamaica Road.
Bermondsey Station is one of six sites in Southwark identified by TfL for property development (the other five are in SE1)
The award-winning station was designed by Ian Ritchie Architects. An over-station development was always part of the plan.
Brunel Bridge: new website
A new independent website has been set up to provide information on the proposed ‘Brunel Bridge’ – a walking and cycling link between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf.
The site at brunelbridge.london will carry regular news updates on the project.
” My Deputy Mayor for Transport and TfL officers have met with Sustrans to assist them in the development of the scheme,” said Mayor of London Boris Johnson last week.
“Subject to demand and funding this work will lead to the development of a business case.”
At the recent Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Community Council meeting Southwark’s regeneration and transport supremo Cllr Mark Williams also confirmed the borough’s backing for the scheme.
Salter Road homes for sale … in Hong Kong
Last year Southwark gave the green light for the redevelopment of the Surrey Docks Stadium site in Salter Road.
Now the homes are on sale under the name Anchor Point – in Hong Kong.
This weekend Fairview New Homes is holding a sales exhibition at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong hotel.
According to a puff piece in a local newspaper: “Anchor Point is a new beacon of luxury, quality and contemporary lifestyle in the heart of London. It is ideal for home or investment.
“Perfectly situated for work and leisure, the luxury residential development enjoys a dynamic environment, and is close to the city’s landmarks.
“The River Thames, lined with rowing and sailing clubs, is just a three-minute walk from the development.”
Chambers Wharf: political leaders trade verbal blows
Following last week’s news that Southwark Council’s legal challenge of the proposed super-sewer work site at Chambers Wharf failed for being submitted a day too late, Southwark’s opposition Lib Dem leader Anood Al-Samerai used an urgent question at Wednesday’s council assembly meeting to urge Labour council leader Peter John to apologise for the legal error.
Here’s what happened:
Chambers Wharf: Southwark’s super-sewer challenge rejected by High Court
Southwark Council has come under fire after its legal challenge to plans to use Chambers Wharf as a construction site for Thames Water’s super-sewer was rejected for being a day too late.
“We are extremely disappointed by this decision and the Government’s decision to not consider alternatives to Chambers Wharf,” said Cllr Peter John, leader of the council.
“We always knew this was going to be a tough battle, but I wanted Government Ministers to have to justify to local residents why they think its acceptable that their lives should be blighted in this way. I again repeat my challenge to Eric Pickles and Liz Truss. Come to Bermondsey and speak to people about why they think seven years of 24 hour a day noise next to homes and schools is OK.
“We will now go back and look at our options, take advice from counsel and make a decision on our next steps. Meanwhile we will continue to work with residents to mitigate the harm they will suffer.
This was a complex legal case which was argued for four hours by QCs at court yesterday. Unfortunately the judge disagreed our lawyers’ interpretation of the legislation and court practice rules. This decision emphasises the challenge local communities and councils will face when objecting to major infrastructure projects.”
Liberal Democrat councillor for Riverside ward, Eliza Mann, who attended the High Court hearing, said: “This is a bitter blow for all the residents, local councillors and local MP who have been fighting Thames Water’s plans to build the super sewer at Chambers Wharf.”
Lib Dem leader Cllr Anood Al-Samerai said “We all trusted the council to represent our community in court. Now the case for a judicial review has been thrown out all because the council couldn’t manage to submit its paperwork on time
“This must rank among one of the council’s worst-ever bungles. It is totally incompetent and amateur. The leader of the council must now explain why Southwark has let its residents and our community down so badly.”
Campaign chairman Barney Holbeche said: “Save Your Riverside is very disappointed that Southwark’s legal challenge to the TTT project in respect of impacts at Chambers Wharf has been rejected by the High Court – and on a legal technicality rather than the merits of the case.”
“We will continue to press Thames Water, the Infrastructure Provider, and the contractors to minimise the impacts of this massive construction imposition on the doorsteps of thousands of Southwark residents in the years to come. We thank LB Southwark for all their efforts and will work closely with them on residents’ behalf.”
Draft Canada Water masterplan
At the end of last year British Land held a series of events to seek feedback on the draft Canada Water masterplan covering the redevelopment of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre and the Harmsworth Quays printworks site.
There is a lot of information to digest and the exhibition panels are available to download. The online feedback form is available until Sunday 4 January.
Anyone who cares about the future of the area is well advised to read the documents carefully and send their comments to British Land.
Swedish Seamen’s Church in Lower Road is now a listed building
Last month the Government granted listed building status (at grade II) to the former Swedish Seamen’s Church in Lower Road.
The church – which dates from 1964 – closed in 2012 and was put up for sale.
In 2013 the Twentieth Century Society asked English Heritage to recommend to the Government that the building be listed.
Henrietta Billings from the 20th Century Society said: “We are delighted by this decision to celebrate and protect the Swedish Seamen’s Mission building. It is a rare and remarkably intact piece of authentic post war Swedish architecture in England.
“Not only are the interiors a showcase for Swedish design, it also tells an interesting story of Anglo-Swedish links in architecture as well as trade. We are confident that this diverse building can be successfully re-used and its fascinating history celebrated.”
In the summer of 2012 the complex hosted a drop-in Swedish cafe during the Olympic Games. More recently the premises has been used by the London Bubble theatre company while its permanent home in Elephant Lane was being refurbished.
Read the full text of the building’s entry on the list of buildings of historical and architectural interest.
Decathlon cafe shuts as redevelopment gets under way
Holders of Decathlon cards registered to the Surrey Quays branch have received this email from the manager as preparatory works for the redevelopment of the site get under way.
Hello Decathlon Surrey Quays Customers,
We are going through changes over the next few years as part of the regeneration of the Canada Water area. Unfortunately, it means we lose our lovely cafe.
We remain open as a store but our cafe will close on the 14th of December for the last time.
The pictures show you how the store and area should look in 2017/2018. During this time, we will go through various changes including moving into one store in March 2015 but we promise to always keep you updated.
Thank you,
Danny
Decathlon Surrey Quays Store Manager
