Under the plans, office building Ludgate House on Blackfriars Road and data centre building Sampson House on Hopton Street will be demolished and nine new buildings, ranging from five to 49 storeys, will be constructed on the 2.1 hectare site. The new buildings will comprise 489 flats and 45,372 sq m of offices as well as community facilities, a gym, a new public square and improved pedestrian access.
The scheme does not include any on-site affordable housing and The Carlyle Group will make a contribution of £65 million under a Section 106 Agreement to the Council's affordable housing fund. The Council's planning officers said in the committee report (91-page / 762KB PDF) that this would enable the delivery of 260 affordable homes in the borough, equivalent to the local policy requirement of a 35% affordable homes provision and "considerably in excess" of what could be provided on site.
"The principle of a payment in lieu of on site affordable housing is acceptable in the specific circumstances of this case, and is considered to be the mechanism capable of providing the maximum quantum of affordable housing, of a type and affordability most suited to meet identified housing needs," the officers said.
The Carlyle Group managing director Mark Harris welcomed the committee's resolution. “The site, which is right on the river, is currently extremely under-utilised from a physical, social, employment as well as cultural perspective and the support we have received from the local community and Southwark Council throughout this process, and last night, endorses our belief in the need for change," he said in a statement.
"This is a once in a generation opportunity to create a vibrant new destination area, with homes, retail and leisure facilities which brings thousands of new jobs to the area, while at the same time allowing us to make a significant contribution to Southwark’s wider housing requirements.”
Subject to grant of planning permission, development on the sites will commence after Ludgate House becomes vacant in 2015 and after Sampson House becomes vacant in 2018. The scheme will be delivered in phases and is expected to be completed between 2020 and 2023.
