01.05.23

Joseph Homes swaps consented Elephant & Castle office tower for Student Accomodation proposal

The revised scheme, which would have 244 bedrooms alongside a small amount of commercial space, is expected to gain permission next week after being recommended for approval by Southwark Council’s planning officer.

Joseph Homes received planning permission in 2019 for a 21-storey office tower at a constrained site on the corner of Rockingham Street and Tiverton Street.

However, plans for the office building, designed by ColladoCollins architects, were scrapped because the planning consent “had not been implemented” and expired this January.

Joseph Homes has agreed to pay £8.54m towards affordable housing in the area as part of the section 106 agreement.

The PBSA plans have also been amended to incorporate a second staircase, a widely recommended fire-safety measure now required by the Greater London Authority for buildings taller than 30m.

Inclusion of the additional staircase caused the number of bedrooms to be cut by just three.

Planning documents for the PBSA scheme say it would meet local demand and free up local family housing. The scheme also includes additions to the public realm and redevelopment of railway arches as commercial space.

Southwark Council will vote on the scheme, but planning officers have recommended it for approval, describing it as a “carefully conceived scheme which would provide an engaging building of an appropriately urban character”.

 

Source: Property Week