At the Southwark Civic Awards on Monday night the Honorary Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey was awarded to Patrick Kingwell, latterly secretary of the Friends of Southwark Park. The same honour was bestowed on the team behind the restoration of the Queen’s Wedding Cake.
Here are the citations:
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.
On Wednesday a Transport for London committee will consider a report on the proposed walking and cycling bridge across the Thames between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf.
You can read the committee report here.
“The Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf crossing will provide a much needed new cross-river walking and cycling connection between the two key areas of London; Rotherhithe in my constituency and Canary Wharf, which between them are expected to accommodate over 36,000 new homes and 112,000 new jobs by 2030. That is a huge number and better connections are urgently needed to match growth,” said Florence Eshalomi, London Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark.
“The next stages will see TfL considering further options for landing points, opening and operating mechanisms, height and access arrangements. I am very pleased that TfL are determined to ensure that the development process for this scheme is transparent and robust, building on the lessons learnt from the Garden Bridge. The public will be able to feedback again during the second public consultation in the summer and I look forward to seeing further responses to this fantastic project.
“The new crossing will provide my constituents with a safe, attractive and direct route to Canary Wharf, reducing journey times and encouraging healthier travel in line with the vision set out by the Mayor in his draft Transport Strategy.”
London Bubble has asked us to share details of their adult drama group which meets Wednesdays, 7-9pm at 5 Elephant Lane, Rotherhithe, SE16 4JD.
“At Bubble we create a friendly, supportive, creative atmosphere for people to build skills* and make theatre about the things that are important to them. People come to this group come from all walks of life and have a wide range of experience.
“This term we are making a short performance inspired by the myth of ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’. This is the story of divided families which Romeo and Juliet is based on. It is also the play within a play in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Our plan is to make our own modern version of the play (which we think will be much better than Shakespeare’s!)”
London Bubble’s terms run April-July, Sept-Dec, Jan-Mar and costs £80 (£40 concessions) per term.
You’re welcome to come for a free taster class to see whether the group is right for you.
Or, why not join Bubble for this term’s short performance on Wednesday 4July.
To find out more or book for a taster class, get in touch with Lucy on 020 7237 4434 or [email protected]
After Thursday’s elections the political scene in SE16 is not much changed, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats each holding on to the territory they already had.
Overall, we now know the results for 60 out of the 63 seats on Southwark Council, with the final three councillors (in London Bridge & West Bermondsey) to be elected next month.
Until the residents of that last ward cast their votes, there are 49 Labour councillors and 11 Lib Dems.
Here’s Labour leader Peter John’s victory speech in the early hours of Friday:
The full results are here – and we also have video of the declaration for each ward:
Surrey Docks Ward declaration #southwarkdecides pic.twitter.com/5u75dh6fo4
— London SE1 Community Website (@se1) May 4, 2018
Rotherhithe Ward declaration #Southwarkdecides pic.twitter.com/cJjufGjOZ5
— London SE1 Community Website (@se1) May 4, 2018
North Bermondsey declaration #southwarkdecides pic.twitter.com/duholWO4aD
— London SE1 Community Website (@se1) May 4, 2018
South Bermondsey declaration #Southwarkdecides pic.twitter.com/x6rg2kLXPB
— London SE1 Community Website (@se1) May 4, 2018
Old Kent Road Ward declaration #southwarkdecides pic.twitter.com/MTXUXAMojZ
— London SE1 Community Website (@se1) May 4, 2018
Swedish Quays – described as “aesthetically challenging” by the Guardian’s architecture critic last year – has been given grade II listed status by the Government.
The complex of 95 homes next to South Dock is one of a number of 1980s buildings to be listed now that they have reached the minimum age – 30 years – for listed status.
From the official listing record:
Swedish Quays of 1986-1990, by David Price and Gordon Cullen, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* a striking and distinctive Post-Modern composition with precise, multi-layered detailing skilfully executed in good quality materials;
* contextually astute, its monumental scale and use of materials references the former buildings and dock walls of the industrial landscape in which it sits;
Historic interest:
* a successful example of townscape created by Gordon Cullen, Britain’s most influential planning theorist and architectural illustrator of the post-war period.
With a week to go till the local elections, representatives of the four biggest parties took part in hustings at Southwark Cathedral on Tuesday.
Apart from a few references to traffic jams in Jamaica Road and the Biscuit Factory development, there wasn’t much about SE16, but many of the issues have relevance across the borough.
Full video below:
Surrey Docks Farm has published details of its plans to upgrade the riverfront section of its site. Details – and a feedback form – are available on the farm website.
Hawker House – the street food emporium in the former WHAT!!! stores building at Canada Water – has applied to extend its planning permission till the end of 2019.
Street Feast, the venue’s operator, says in its application to Southwark Council:
Hawker House has operated successfully at Canada Water for two and a half years and has become established as a popular community asset on a site that would otherwise remain unoccupied. Surveys of Hawker House customers undertaken by the applicant have shown that approximately 4 in 10 of the visitors come from the local area. Four in 10 of Hawker House’s staff also live locally.
The applicant now expects the property to be available for an extended period than originally expected, and is therefore seeking to extend the existing planning permission on the same terms as those previously granted.
Full details at 18/AP/0889.
Hawker House retained its licence last autumn despite objections from nearby residents.