The Strategic Development Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss two planning applications. One application concerns a mixed-use development at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine, and the other involves a change of use at 1 Canada Square¹.

Royal Foundation of St Katharine Redevelopment

The committee will consider a planning application for a mixed-use redevelopment at The Royal Foundation Of St Katharine, 2 Butcher Row, London, E14 8DS. The proposal involves the erection of a part 3, part 5, part 7, part 9 storey building.

The development aims to provide:

• Residential units (Class C3)
• Visitor accommodation (Class C1)
• Office space (Class E(g))
• Flexible community uses, including affordable workspace, a community cafe, and a community hall (Classes E(b), E(g), F2(b))

These facilities would be spread across the ground and mezzanine floors. The plans also include new public spaces, blue badge parking, landscaping, and other associated works.

The application seeks to redevelop a section of the Royal Foundation of St Katharine (RFSK) site in Limehouse. The proposed building would house 115 residential homes, with 35.2% designated as affordable housing based on habitable rooms. It also includes expanded visitor accommodation for RFSK, providing 25 additional bedrooms, office space, affordable workspace, and permanent community facilities like a café and hall. A new east-west pedestrian route, St Katharine's Lane, is planned to the north of the site, along with public realm improvements and landscaped areas.

The report pack notes that the site is previously developed land in a highly accessible location near Limehouse Station and Cycleway 3. The report pack states that the principle of residential and mixed-use development is supported by national, regional, and local policy, contributing to housing delivery targets and enhancing community infrastructure. The affordable housing offer meets Fast Track criteria and prioritises family-sized units, while the affordable workspace (which would be 100% affordable) and community facilities represent significant public benefits.

The report pack also notes that the design has evolved through pre-application engagement, resulting in a tiered massing strategy that steps down towards the Grade II* listed Master's House and York Square Conservation Area adjacent to Butcher Row.

The report pack states that Historic England and council officers have identified less than substantial harm to heritage assets from this proposal. However, this is outweighed by public benefits including affordable housing and workspace, community facilities, and improvements to the setting of the Master's House.

Change of Use at 1 Canada Square

The committee will also consider an application concerning 1 Canada Square. The proposal is for a change of use from Use Class E(g)(i) Office to Flexible Use Class F1 (Learning and Non Residential Institution)/ Use Class E(g)(i) (Office) of levels 46 and 47.

The intended occupant is University College London (UCL) School of Management. The report pack notes that UCL School of Management moved to Level 38 of One Canada Square in 2016, further expanding in 2020 to Level 50 and Levels 48 and 49 in 2024. Due to continued success and growth of the school, it is now at full capacity and needs to expand to accommodate increased demand. It is therefore proposed that levels 46 and 47 would accommodate the expansion of the school and be refurbished internally, providing staff offices, teaching and learning spaces.

The report pack states that the application is being considered by the Strategic Development Committee because the proposal is a departure from the Development Plan and the change of use is to floor space exceeding 2,500 sq metres.

The report pack notes that the proposal would result in the net loss of 4,852 sqm of office floorspace. This loss, within a 'Primary Preferred Office Location' (PPOL), is not normally supported. However, in this specific instance, it is considered to be acceptable as the proposal would not undermine the supply of office floor space within the Canary Wharf PPOL. In addition, a higher educational use is considered a strategic 'Central Activities Zone' use. An educational provision of this type is also consistent with the uses that would be expected to be found within a Metropolitan Town Centre.

Other Items

The agenda includes standard items such as:

• Apologies for absence
• Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and other interests
• Approval of the minutes of the previous meetings
• Recommendations and procedure for hearing objections and meeting guidance