Transport for London has been given the all-clear to push forward with a 17-storey office tower built over Southwark Tube station, SE1.
The borough council’s planning committee signed off plans for the over-station development at last night’s meeting, voting 6:2 in favour of the scheme.
TfL will knock down Algarve House, 49-56 Hatfields and 1 Joan Street to build a hybrid timber tower with around 285,000 sq ft of office space and about 2,550 sq ft of retail. Agents have yet to be appointed to market the space.
The Allford Hall Monaghan Morris-designed scheme has been worked up to achieve BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum accreditation and will use excess heat from the Tube network to reduce energy consumption.
Scott Anderson, head of property development at TfL, said: “This world-class development will create a new landmark for this part of London while providing vital revenue to support public transport across London.
“Sustainability has been a core focus during the development process, alongside meaningful community engagement, to make sure that we build something that will make a long-term, beneficial difference as the city and businesses embark upon a green recovery.”
The council’s planning officers noted in their report that “numerous” past attempts to build over the station have failed owing to the need to keep the Tube station open during construction, as well as the small floor plates that any over-station building would have.
“When the Underground station was originally constructed, the local area was very different and the property market less buoyant,” their report added. “This meant that any proposal to develop the area above the station was not financially viable at that point. In the intervening years, Bankside has developed into a key office location.”
Deloitte Real Estate is planning adviser to TfL.
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