First Base has submitted plans for a new £137m mixed-use scheme on Tower Bridge Road, SE1.
The scheme will deliver 69 homes, 137 bedroom apart hotel and over 10,000 sq ft of commercial space including a co-working restaurants and cafes.
The site, located at 151-157 Tower Bridge Road in Bermondsey, currently comprises 185,000 sq ft.
Upon completion, the new development will include a major residential component, along with underground car parking and direct access to bars, restaurants and shopping on Bermondsey Street.
Arney Fender Katsalidis has been appointed to design the residential-led scheme, which will include a new public square and workspace tailored to start-up technology and creative businesses.
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Analysis – Tower Bridge Road plans
A scheme granted consent in 2002 and completed in 2006 is back in for planning with wholesale alterations and refurbishment plans with the application stating “the building façade is dated, of poor architectural quality and in need of refurbishment”.
The plans for a site on Tower Bridge Road, SE1 have been submitted to Southwark Council by joint venture partners First Base and Starwood Capital. The JV acquired the site in January 2015 after the previous owners and developers went bust and half the site had long since stalled construction, with builders ceasing operations in April 2010.
Previous plans across the site were undertaken in two phases. The first consent for 69 private homes and 4,500 sq m (48,400 sq ft) of office space completed in 2006. However, according to documents submitted to Southwark, the previous consented plan for 69 homes is actually occupied by a total of 106 units. The second phase for 137 serviced apartments started construction in 2009 and never quite completed.
The applicant states “it is our intention to resolve the site’s complex planning history” and that it is “important to note that the inconsistencies between the existing buildings and the consented scheme were undertaken by the previous owner of the building and have been inherited by the applicant. The existing building was constructed by the previous owners Sunlight Properties, a company which subsequently fell into administration.”
Paul Wellman, senior researcher, London Residential Research (EGi) Estates Gazette
