Mayor calls in 1,350-home project after refusal earlier this year
The Mayor of London has called in plans to build almost 1,350 homes in Bermondsey after rejection from Southwark Council.
The scheme would see a number of homes and commercial space across a swatch of industrial land directly beside the Southeastern line to Deptford and the now-closed Spa Road junction station. A new school is also part of the scheme.
There’s no plans whatsoever to open the closed station which lies on the main approaches to London Bridge. Instead, direct links to Bermondsey Jubilee Line station are planned.
Southwark Council rejected the scheme as “affordable housing” levels were set at 27%, which is below the target 35% and a couple would need to earn £60,000 combined to afford homes designated as “affordable”.
No social homes were apparently viable, which means could be provided without making a profit margin of at least 20%.
It’s a shame the affordable levels are so poor as architecturally there’s much to like.
The call in is interesting. Will Mayor Sadiq Khan approve with totals below what he has demanded? Or is an agreement in the offing – and one which hopefully doesn’t see too many compromises on design.
