New Cross Royal Mail site could become student housing
Plans have been submitted to Lewisham council for a student housing block in New Cross at a former post office and sorting office.
In terms of architecture not many will miss the current low rise block at 199-205 New Cross Road.
In its place would be a four storey block in keeping with surrounding buildings. A total of 139 rooms are proposed. The rear of the structure faces onto Hatcham Park Mews.
New Cross Gate station with Southern and London Overground stations is a short walk east with New Cross station offering Southeastern services a short stroll beyond that.
Cycle parking is located in the basement. No affordable rooms are proposed.
The application states that “Based on current values and build costs, the proposal is deliverable but will not achieve the developer profit benchmark of 15% GDV”.
The applicant is “New Cross Assets“.
This is madness; primary schools are closing down due to falling birth numbers and the numbers of foreign students is being curtailed. What we need is accessible accommodation for elderly people!
I get the argument that dedicated student housing can help free up other homes now used by students but I am a bit dubious that the rapid increase in PBSA is sustainable. Universities are in trouble and cutting back. Goldsmiths is a great example. Student visas are being cut. Some PBSA are seeing more empty rooms and failing to find tenants. Very high costs don’t help. Could we see these buildings simply becoming dumping grounds for councils in relation to spiralling temporary accomodation? They’re often little more than hotels/HMO type places with shared kitchens etc. Not suitable for many but I can see them being used that way. Easier to gain permission for student rooms then concert down the line.
I do not believe foreign student numbers are being reduced. Hence why large scale student accommodation ate being built in The Boroughs of Gteenwich and Lewisham. Rather than building homes flor families.
I do agtee with Eva that thete needs to be more affordable and accessible homes for elderly and disabled people. Sadly so many Local Authority sheltered accommodation housing has been closed and sold off to private developers. Many residents living in larger homes are unable to downsize due to the lack of suitable housing for elderlly and disabled people.
@Graham: building student accommodation is the new Klondike and everyone is rushing to claim their stake, irrespective of the true position.
I was down at New Cross Gate recently and looked at the old post office building thinking it was a shame that it remained unused. The site would make for a great low rise block for social housing.