Affordable homes and student housing at Skipton House, Southwark, London SE1

“Proposal: Demolition of the existing building on site with the retention and reuse of the basement level with minor basement extension. Construction of two separate but linked buildings, expressed as a series of four towers provisioning Residential units (Class C3) in the southern elements, and Purpose Built Student Accommodation units (Use Class Sui Generis), with the delivery of an amount of retail (Class E(a)), food and beverage (Class E (b)), office (Class Eg(i)) and…”

“For information: The development as a whole comprises 243 dwellings (Class C3) and 1,434 Purpose Built Student Accommodation Units, 924sqm of Class E(a)-(b) at ground floor level, and 1,106sqm of Class E(gi) and (e) at first and second floor level.”

“15/AP/5125 - The Site included the Perry Library building and the Keyworth Street Hostel buildings adjacent to the north of the Site. The application sought the demolition of the existing buildings and creation of 2 levels of basement and the erection of buildings ranging from Ground Floor plus 7 to ground floor plus 39 storeys.”

“23/AP/0410 - Change of use from office to a flexible use at floors 1 to six (inclusive) to enable office (Class E) and/or education uses (Class F) and flexible mixed uses at the ground and basement to enable retail/cafe/restaurant (Class E) and/or gym (Class E) and/or storage (Class B8) and/or offices (Class E) and/or education uses (Class F), in addition to plant, cycle parking and shower facilities, refuse/recycling storage, car parking and loading bays at basement;…”

“The proposals include a range of uses which will make a significant contribution towards the role and function of area, through the provision of 1,106 sqm of flexible medical service and office floorspace, 1,011sqm of flexible food, beverage, retail and cafe floorspace, together with 1,434 purpose built student units and 243 new affordable residential homes to meet identified housing need.”

“Earlier parts of this report have explained the rationale for this proposal to deliver no on-site affordable student housing, and to instead deliver a 100% direct-let scheme and maximise the affordable housing provision. This results in the delivery of 243 new affordable homes comprising 957 affordable habitable rooms which is 40% of the total habitable rooms on the site; 28.4% of which would be social rent and 11.6% intermediate.”

“Objectors addressed the committee and responded to questions put by members of the committee.”

“The applicant’s representatives addressed the committee and answered questions put by the members of the committee.”

“The committee put further questions to officers and discussed the application.”

“A motion to grant planning permission was moved, seconded, put to the vote and declared carried.”

“That planning permission be granted subject to conditions, the applicant entering into an appropriate legal agreement, and referral to the Mayor of London.”

“That following the issue planning permission, the director of planning and growth write to the Secretary of State notifying them of the decision, pursuant to Regulation 30(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017; and…”