Four-block Borough Triangle plans survive flood of objections from locals and opposition from Historic England
Southwark council has approved plans by Berkeley to build four residential towers up to 44 storeys in height in south London after a knife-edge vote.
Councillors voted three in favour and three against a recommendation from planning officers to approve one of the capital’s tallest housing schemes yesterday evening in a near four-hour long planning committee meeting, with the outcome tipped in the scheme’s favour by the chair’s deciding vote.
The development, designed by architect Maccreanor Lavington, will contain nearly 900 homes, including 230 for affordable tenures.
The homes will be in four buildings of 14, 18, 38 and 44 storeys on the 0.86ha Borough Triangle site in Elephant and Castle.
Its planning application received objections from locals and heritage groups, including Historic England, over the scheme’s impact on several nearby conservation areas and heritage assets including the grade I-listed Southwark Cathedral.
The plans were also opposed by some traders operating within the popular Mercato Metropolitano food and drink market which currently occupies the site.
>>See also: Berkeley warns building safety regulation putting ‘significant pressure’ on housebuilding
However, while planning officers admitted the scheme would cause less than substantial harm to some heritage buildings, they concluded this would be outweighed by its public benefits including 35% affordable housing.
Officers also said the new buildings would contribute positively to the local townscape and provide an “engaging and animated interface at street level”, and praised proposals for open space and a playground on the site.
No comments yet