The London Borough of Southwark has approved Joseph Homes’ plans to deliver a purpose-built student accommodation-led mixed-use scheme in Sylvan Grove, off Old Kent Road, in Southwark SE15.
The approved scheme includes a 34-storey tower comprising 688-beds, as a mix of studio apartments and clusters of three- to eight-bedroom apartments, as well as amenities such as a top-floor lounge and external terrace, study space, communal kitchen and dining, and a gym.
The adjoining seven-storey building comprises 23 family housing units of three and four bedrooms, all of which will be delivered as affordable housing at social rent levels. The scheme also includes 21,000 sq ft of employment space.
The development is located to the north of a 7.7-acre masterplanned site and is one of a number of buildings being developed in the Old Kent Road Opportunity Area.
The TP Bennett-designed scheme will replace a previous project on the 0.7-acre site that featured 219 homes and 32,000 sq ft of commercial workspace in a 32-storey tower and a connected five-storey block, which was approved in January 2022.
Nenad Manasijevic, principal director at TP Bennett, said: “We are pleased that our proposals for Sylvan Grove will be able to provide high-quality student homes in south London. This is a typology that has been recently overlooked but is in high demand.
“Providing communal and outdoor space will foster a sense of community and create a dynamic environment that goes beyond traditional student housing norms.”
Joseph Rajah, chief executive of Joseph Homes, said: “Our plans will deliver high-quality purpose-built student accommodation for some of the 11,000 students currently living in private residences in Southwark.
“Our proposals will help free up much-needed family housing and contribute to London’s acute affordable housing need, as well as benefit the local community through our commitments to a net-zero-carbon future for the wider planet.”
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