Plans to build nearly 500 student flats and 26 social rented homes near Old Kent Road are set to be approved at a meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, March 3).
The applicant, Summix OCS Developments Ltd, has submitted plans to Southwark Council for two student blocks and 26 family-sized homes for social rent.
The two student blocks, which would be 12 storeys and 13 storeys respectively, would be located on Ossory Road, while the social rented homes would be located on Verney Road.
Southwark Council’s Planning Committee is expected to grant planning permission for both planning applications.
The student accommodation consists of 465 beds which would overlook Burgess Park. The two student buildings would also provide a collective 2,466 sqm of commercial floorspace.
An existing building at 2-10 Ossory Road would be demolished to make way for the 13 storey building while 14-22 Ossory Road would accommodate the other 12 storey block.
The student accommodation plans to feature a cinema space, a laundry, a gym, games rooms, a study space, bookable dining spaces and a reading lounge.
Credon House, which is located at 72 Verney Road, would be demolished and replaced with a 14 storey building that would be the site for the social rented homes.
Of the 26 social rented homes, 23 would be four-beds and the remaining 3 would be two-beds that would be wheelchair accessible. There also plans for a 118 sqm communal garden which would be located on a roof terrace and would provide long-distance views towards the south, east and towards Burgess Park.
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A second roof terrace would provide an extra 71 sqm of children’s play space, while a further 95 sqm of children’s play space will be located elsewhere in the development. Both planning applications were the subject of public consultation, with the student accommodation proposals receiving 29 objections and one neutral comment.
Objectors criticised the designs of the buildings as “generic and characterless” and said the increase in student accommodation would put pressure on public services and infrastructure while “not returning benefits through council tax”.
Twenty three people had objected to the plans for new social rent homes while there were also three neutral comments. Objections were made in response to the proposed building height, arguing “seven stories would be more appropriate”.
Other objections touched on the construction period, with concerns raised over potential pollution and disruption.
Planning officers said the 465 student rooms are equivalent to delivering 186 homes, and would help to reduce pressure on the local private rented market as homes that would otherwise be in student occupation, will be released back to the private rented sector.
They have described both developments as being of a “high quality” and have recommended that planning permission be granted for both proposals.
Aah….London where Lend Lease and Berkley Homes buy any bit of council owned ( meaning taxpayers) land and buildings.
London must be the Centre of Student learning, how many proposed Student Accommodation has there been in the last ten years? And quickly sold on to other developers when not enough students?
Another charming building – a real beauty to look at every day if you live next to it – for which Southwark has become famous. I can feel the cold wind tunnel effect around it even before it’s been built. All for a paltry 26 “social housing” flats? Something is seriously upsidedown with our social housing policy since Thatcher.