Housing association Peabody has “urgently” appointed an architect for a major residential-led mixed-use scheme in Borough, SE1.
Peabody is aiming for a quick submission to avoid uncertainties caused by Brexit and local elections.
The housing association hopes to submit plans early next year in time for them to be considered for a decision by May 2018, when local council elections are due.
In notes filed on the appointment of Squire & Partners, Peabody says the “award is strictly necessary and extremely urgent”, as “pre-application discussions with the local authority must start immediately”.
“There is already a considerable amount of political uncertainty surrounding the delivery of the scheme owing to the snap election and result in June 2017, which was not foreseeable.
“The reduction in the Conservative government’s majority means that the approach to the delivery of Brexit is unclear. This has implications for the housing and office market within London.
“If the deadline of February 2018 is not achieved, the scheme will be exposed to additional uncertainty due to the local elections in May 2018, which could mean the scheme may not be achieved at all.”
The “Borough Triangle” site, near Elephant and Castle, SE1, has been stalled ever since talks broke down between Peabody and Ministry of Sound. An application was originally submitted in 2015 for 529 homes and 100,000 sq ft of offices, as well as a new purpose-built nightclub for Ministry of Sound, which currently occupies a nearby site.
The plans were withdrawn 18 months later after the two sides failed to agree over details regarding the noise-proof nightclub.
The new scheme will comprise a mixed-use residential-led development of a minimum of 566 homes, as well as a landmark office building, which Peabody will part occupy.
EG understands that the new impetus for getting on site and delivering the scheme comes from the new leadership now in place at Peabody, following its merger with Family Mosaic.
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