Linkcity signs deal to deliver Southwark regeneration project

Developer Linkcity has secured funding to push ahead with the first phase of the Tustin Estate regeneration scheme in south London. 

The 690 homes planned for the Southwark site include 250 replacement council homes and shared equity properties, 220 additional council homes including those for keyworker, and 220 homes for sale. Southwark Council gave full permission for the first phase of the plans in July, for 167 homes. 

A separate, outline planning permission was also granted in July to demolish several blocks and a primary school, and build 12 new buildings ranging from 2 to 21 storeys delivering 523 homes.

Construction firm Bouygues UK will be the main contractor on the development, which will also delivery a central park, refurbishment of existing council homes and at least 1,800 sqm of commercial floorspace. Linkcity is part of Bouygues.  

Bouygues will deliver 440 homes in two more phases after the first over the next three years. 

Work on the regeneration project started this autumn and is expected to complete in 2030. 

Southwark Council selected Linkcity in 2021 to advise the authority on ‘buildability’ in the development of phase 1 and the masterplan. 

Residents voted to regenerate the estate through a community ballot. The development is expected to achieve a 97% reduction on carbon emissions when in use. 

Tom Jackson, development director at Linkcity, said: “We’re delighted to have started work on phase 1 and we can’t wait to see the plans come to fruition. Alongside our construction partner Bouygues UK, we are committed to providing social and economic value through local employment and education opportunities and achieving a significant reduction on carbon emissions.” 

Darren Merrill, cabinet member for council homes and homelessness, said: “We will soon start seeing tangible results from all the hard work put into this project, and I’m proud that our residents have been so involved in the designs for their estate.”

It is the first large-scale project to be procured through a developer-led framework run by consultancy Pagabo. 

Jonathan Parker, head of construction at Pagabo, said: “It would be difficult to find a better large-scale scheme than that of Tustin Estate to be the first procured through our Developer Led Framework.”