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Weekly updates

Southwark to Demolish Marie Curie House, Prioritise Social Housing

This week in Southwark:

Tustin Estate Residents to Benefit from Accelerated Affordable Housing Delivery

The Cabinet has approved a change in strategy for Phase 2 of the Tustin Estate renewal project, prioritizing the delivery of new council homes for social rent over the previously planned key worker housing. The decision was made at their meeting on Tuesday 2 December 2025. This means 98 homes originally intended for key workers at London Living Rent will now be allocated as social housing, addressing the urgent need for affordable housing for Southwark residents.

Why it matters:

  • Faster Delivery: The revised strategy aims to speed up the construction of affordable homes, providing much-needed housing for families on the council's waiting list.
  • Focus on Social Rent: By prioritizing social rent, the council is ensuring that these homes are genuinely affordable for low-income residents.
  • Addressing Housing Crisis: This decision reflects the council's commitment to tackling the housing crisis and providing secure, affordable homes for its residents.

The council will enter into an early works contract for design and demolition, with the main works contract to follow, delivered block by block, starting with block G2.

Marie Curie House Demolition Approved Amid Safety Concerns

The Cabinet has approved the demolition of Marie Curie House, a 16-storey residential block on the Sceaux Gardens Estate, citing structural degradation, fire safety risks, and the building nearing its design life. The decision was made at their meeting on Tuesday 2 December 2025. This decision, subject to ballot exemption from the GLA, comes as the council is currently incurring monthly costs of circa £50,000 for a Waking Watch1, which could be eliminated and redirected toward assisting funding the demolition works.

Why it matters:

  • Safety First: The demolition is deemed necessary to address significant safety concerns related to the building's condition.
  • Financial Savings: Eliminating the need for a Waking Watch will free up funds that can be used to support the demolition and redevelopment of the site.
  • Right to Return: The council has assured all tenants that they will be offered the Right to Return to the redeveloped site.

District Heating Review Reveals £1 Million Investment and AI Pilot

The Housing Scrutiny Commission received a report on the review of district heating and related issues, highlighting a £1 million investment in summer improvement works across boiler houses and plant rooms. The report was presented at their meeting on Tuesday 2 December 2025. The council has also begun piloting the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) alarm systems at the Aylesbury and North Peckham boiler houses.

Why it matters:

  • Preparedness for Colder Seasons: The investment aims to ensure the reliability of district heating systems during the winter months, preventing outages and disruptions for residents.
  • Addressing Overheating: The Engineering Services team is working to identify and address properties with overheating problems, ensuring comfortable living conditions for residents.
  • Ofgem Regulation: The Energy Act 2023 paved the way for the Heat Networks (Market Framework) (Great Britain) Regulations 2025, shifting heat networks from being unregulated to regulated, empowering Ofgem as the official regulator for heat networks in Great Britain.

Other Matters

Upcoming Meetings

  1. A Waking Watch is a fire safety measure involving trained personnel continuously patrolling a building to detect and alert residents to a fire. ↩

Southwark considers late-night deli alcohol sales, IT service exit

This week in Southwark:

Bermondsey Deli's Late-Night Alcohol Sales Face Resident Pushback

The Licensing Sub-Committee is set to review an application from S Lyons Limited to extend the alcohol sales and regulated entertainment hours for B Square Deli in Bermondsey Square. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday 27 November 2025. The deli seeks to operate until 01:00 on Saturdays, raising concerns from a local resident about potential antisocial behaviour and public nuisance in the residential area.

Resident Voices Concern

While acknowledging S Lyons Ltd's positive contributions to the neighbourhood, the resident expressed specific worries about the location's context, particularly its proximity to the Vine Bar and its central position within a residential area.

Police Mitigation

The Metropolitan Police initially objected but withdrew their representation after agreeing to additional conditions with the applicant, including CCTV, a dispersal policy, and biodegradable packaging.

Policy Context

The report pack notes that the premises lies outside of a cumulative impact area1 and within a residential area. It also notes that the council's statement of licensing policy recommends closing hours of 23:00 daily for restaurants, and for public houses, wine bars or other drinking establishments.

Southwark Plans Exit From Joint IT Service Amid Financial Pressures

The Joint IT Committee (Brent, Lewisham and Southwark) met to discuss the Shared Technology Service, including performance, risks, and future plans. The meeting took place on Tuesday 25 November 2025. A key item was Southwark Council's intention to exit the partnership, citing financial pressures and a broader plan to integrate IT, Digital, and Resident Experience into a single function.

Financial Pressures

According to the public reports pack, the rationale behind this intention is linked to a wider recommissioning exercise and an overall reduction of STS services over time.

Southwark has a broader plan to bring together IT, Digital, and Resident Experience into a single combined function. Alongside this, the council is also facing significant financial pressures as a result of the Local Government Fair Funding Review and is seeking opportunities to consolidate and reduce its spending.

Transition Plan

The report pack stated that once formal notice is received, a transition team would be established to work collectively with all partners to develop a comprehensive plan. The plan would set out the approach to managing TUPE2 implications, contract novations, and the transfer of all relevant documentation, tools and security credentials, with timescales to be confirmed at that point.

Service Performance

The report pack included details of service level performance between June and September 2025. It stated that SLA performance for priority 3 (P3) operational incident issues and priority 4 (P4) average SLA operational request calls SLA had improved compared with the previous reporting period. The report pack stated that this had come along with a reduction in open calls, showing good progress in overall operational performance.

The report pack also noted a growing demand for services, with the number of tickets logged into STS queues increasing. It noted that the number of supported users has grown from 10,500 users in 2020 to 12,693 in 2025, a 21% increase.

The report pack stated that there were sixteen Priority 1 (P1) incidents related to STS infrastructure during the reporting period, which meant that the KPI of no more than 3 major incidents per month had been breached three times.

The report pack stated that after each major incident, STS prepares a detailed Major Incident Report covering impact, timeline, root cause, and lessons learned, and that these reports are shared with affected partners, and review meetings are held as needed.

Community Safety and Play Spaces Under Scrutiny

The Environment, Community Safety and Engagement Scrutiny Commission met to discuss community safety, play spaces, and its work programme. The meeting took place on Wednesday 26 November 2025.

Community Safety

The commission discussed community safety, including crime and anti-social behaviour hotspots.

Play Space Scrutiny Review

The commission discussed the Play Space Scrutiny Review, covering planning and regeneration, as well as housing, environment, sustainability, and leisure.

An officer report was enclosed in the agenda, providing an update on the Open Space Needs Assessment. The report also included a briefing on how regeneration schemes support the provision and upgrades of playgrounds.

A briefing report on spending and service provision by Housing and Environment, Sustainability & Leisure Directorates was also provided, to enable comparison to inform the Play Space Scrutiny Review.

Other Matters

Upcoming Meetings

  1. A cumulative impact area is an area where the concentration of licensed premises is believed to be having a negative impact on the local community. ↩

  2. TUPE stands for Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations. It protects employees' terms and conditions of employment when a business is transferred from one owner to another. ↩

Southwark Council: Late-Night Licence Fears, Student Housing Debate

This week in Southwark:

Crispies Late-Night Licence Sparks Crime and Nuisance Fears

A Licensing Sub-Committee meeting to consider a new premises licence application for Crispies, a restaurant on Walworth Road, was cancelled. The meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday 18 November 2025. Crispies Enterprises Ltd sought permission to provide late-night refreshment until 4:00 AM, seven days a week. However, objections from licensing authorities and local residents raised concerns about potential crime, disorder, and public nuisance.

Objections Highlight Resident Concerns

Representations from licensing authorities recommended aligning operating hours with the Southwark statement of licensing policy and adding conditions to promote licensing objectives. [Wesley McArthur], Principal Enforcement Officer, expressed concerns that late-night refreshment would negatively impact crime, disorder, and public nuisance, stating:

We do not think it is appropriate to allow premises to provide late-night refreshment later than the closing times suggested in the SoLP in an area with so many residential properties (often housing families, school age children and many people of working age) in close proximity. We say that granting extended operating hours is likely to have a detrimental effect on the quality of life and amenity of local residents.

Other objections from local residents included concerns about noise, anti-social behaviour, litter, hygiene, and environmental impact. One representation stated that the area had become infested with fast food stores, and that the council gives out late night trading licences without any consideration for the local residents and neighbourhood.

Council Policy in the Spotlight

The report pack referenced Southwark's statement of licensing policy 2021-2026, which recommends closing times of 00:00 (Sunday to Thursday) and 01:00 (Friday and Saturday) for restaurants, cafes, and take-away establishments in the Elephant and Castle major town centre. The report pack also noted the council's commitment to considering the climate change implications of any decisions.

Student Accommodation Plan Draws Fire for Lack of Affordable Housing

A Planning Committee (Smaller Applications) meeting to discuss a planning application for land to the rear of 19-49 Bush Road was cancelled. The meeting was scheduled to take place on Monday 17 November 2025. The application proposed demolishing existing buildings and constructing three blocks of student accommodation and commercial space. The proposal has faced significant opposition from local residents, with concerns raised about the lack of affordable housing, the impact on the community, and the scale of the development.

Resident Objections Mount

The council received 70 comments of objection, raising concerns that student housing would not benefit the community and Southwark more generally, and that there would be no affordable homes. Residents also cited concerns about the impact on the local street scene, heritage assets, and the amenity of neighbouring properties.

Development Aims to Revitalize Brownfield Site

The planning officer's report recommended granting planning permission, stating that the proposed development seeks to reuse a brownfield site and would provide good quality purpose-built student housing which is in high demand. The report also stated that the development would benefit the local economy through student population expenditure, and that wider sustainability benefits include a payment in-lieu of affordable housing, an overall reduction in flood risk, and the provision of sustainable drainage systems.

Council to Review Finances, Fraud Prevention, and Customer Service

The Audit, Governance and Standards Committee met on Wednesday 19 November 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including the council's financial performance, anti-fraud measures, customer service, and risk management. You can read the full details of the meeting here. The committee reviewed external auditor's reports, the final statement of accounts, and strategies for treasury management and capital projects.

Key Areas of Focus:

  • Financial Oversight: The committee reviewed the External Auditor's reports from KPMG for 2024-25 and considered the Final Statement of Accounts for 2024-25.
  • Housing Revenue Account: The committee discussed Housing Revenue Account governance and financial monitoring.
  • Fraud Prevention: The committee reviewed the 2025-26 Q3 Report of the Corporate Anti-Fraud Team and the Special Investigations Team.
  • Customer Service: The committee discussed complaints and customer service.
  • Risk Management: The committee received an update report on corporate risk.
  • Southwark360: The committee considered a report on the progress of Southwark360, the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) replacement programme.

Bermondsey Arts Club Licence Under Review

The Licensing Sub-Committee met on Thursday 20 November 2025 to review the premises licence for Bermondsey Arts Club. You can read the full details of the meeting here. The Licensing Act 2003 regulates the sale and supply of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment, and the provision of late night refreshment. Licensing objectives include the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. No transcript of the meeting is currently available.

Upcoming Meetings

Southwark Care Home Deal Faces Scrutiny, Residents' Rights Debated

This week in Southwark:

Care Home Decision Sparks Scrutiny Over Affordability and Stakeholder Engagement

The Overview & Scrutiny Committee met to discuss a call-in regarding the cabinet's decision to dispose of the Asylum Road Care Home site to Andover Care Ltd via a long lease. You can read the full details of the meeting here. Councillors requested the call-in, raising concerns about the ability to enforce the council's Residential Care Charter, guarantees for quality and affordability, a missing Gateway Zero report, insufficient engagement with key stakeholder groups, potential cost increases, and whether the proposal would meet the borough's specific bed needs. This decision has raised questions about the council's commitment to providing affordable and high-quality care for its residents, particularly vulnerable older adults.

Key Concerns:

  • Enforcement of Standards: Councillors questioned how the council would ensure Andover Care Ltd adheres to the standards outlined in the Residential Care Charter[^1] over the long term. [^1]: The Residential Care Charter is a document that outlines the standards of care that the council expects from residential care providers.
  • Affordability: Concerns were raised about whether the care home would remain affordable for Southwark residents, especially those with limited financial resources.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Councillors expressed disappointment that key stakeholder groups, such as COPSINS, Southwark Pensioners Action Group, and Southwark Dementia Action Alliance, were not adequately consulted before the decision was made.

Next Steps:

The committee had the option to refer the decision back to the cabinet for reconsideration, undertake a subsequent review, or not refer the matter back. The outcome of this scrutiny could significantly impact the future of care provision in Southwark and the council's approach to engaging with stakeholders on important decisions.

Council Assembly Debates Residents' Rights and Fairer Funding

The Council Assembly convened to discuss a range of issues, including a themed debate on residents' rights and motions on fairer funding, divestment from conflict, affordable housing, street safety, and water management. You can read the full details of the meeting here. The meeting highlighted the diverse priorities and perspectives within the council, as well as the challenges of balancing competing interests and addressing complex social and economic issues.

Residents' Rights Debate:

Councillor John Batteson, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business, and Councillor Natasha Ennin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods, presented a motion on Rights for Residents: Putting People First, emphasizing the importance of guaranteeing rights for residents. Councillor Emily Tester planned to propose an amendment to the motion, including a statement that access to safe, secure housing that ordinary people can afford is a right.

Motions and Deputations:

The Council Assembly was scheduled to consider motions on various topics, including fairer funding for Southwark, divestment from conflict, affordable housing requirements, cleaner and safer streets, Peckham Rye Station accessibility, and Thames Water management. The Assembly was also scheduled to hear deputations from Eco-Council, Judith Kerr Primary School, regarding road danger and air pollution, and Living Bankside, regarding anti-social behaviour and crime.

Key Reports:

The Council Assembly was scheduled to consider reports on committee proportionality, treasury management, the appointment of an Honorary Recorder, and the re-appointment of an independent person. The treasury management report included recommendations to add UK Building Societies and AAA-rated Variable Net Asset Value (VNAV) Money Market Funds1 to the approved investment list.

Planning Committee to Discuss Grove House and Camberwell Old Cemetery Toilets

The Planning Committee (Smaller Applications) was scheduled to discuss planning applications relating to Grove House, Dulwich Common, and Camberwell Old Cemetery Public Toilets, Forest Hill Road. You can read the full details of the meeting here. The decisions made by the committee will have a direct impact on the local environment and the availability of public amenities.

Other Matters

  • The Planning Committee (Smaller Applications) is scheduled to meet on 17 November 2025 to discuss a planning application concerning land to the rear of 19-49 Bush Road.

Upcoming Meetings

  1. Money Market Funds (MMFs) are a type of investment fund that invests in short-term, low-risk debt securities. They are often used by investors as a safe place to park cash. Variable Net Asset Value (VNAV) MMFs are a type of MMF that allows the net asset value (NAV) to fluctuate based on market conditions. ↩

Southwark: Student Housing Approved, Cycle Safety Boosted

This week in Southwark:

Student Accommodation Approved Amidst Resident Concerns

The Planning Committee (Major Applications) B approved the demolition of Coburg House on Newington Causeway and the construction of a new building with commercial space and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). You can read the full details of the meeting here. The decision has sparked debate, with some residents raising concerns about the height and massing of the building, overshadowing, loss of privacy, and the increasing saturation of student housing in the area.

Key Points:

  • Building Details: The new building will be 19 storeys facing Newington Causeway and 18 storeys to the rear, including 243 student bedrooms.
  • Resident Objections: Concerns were raised about the building's impact on daylight, sunlight, and privacy for neighboring properties on Avonmouth Street.
  • Committee Response: The committee added conditions requiring obscure glazing for windows facing Avonmouth Street, restricting the hours of operation for the third-floor terrace, and mandating single-gender floors in the student management plan.
  • Urban Greening: A revised roof plan with additional bio-solar roof improved the Urban Greening Factor score, eliminating the need for a £56,000 contribution towards borough tree planting.

Saturation of student accommodation

The approval comes despite concerns about the increasing number of student accommodations in the area. One resident stated that there is a saturation of student accommodation in the area . The committee addressed these concerns by adding conditions to mitigate the impact on neighboring properties and ensure the building's sustainable design.

Mandela Way Cycle Infrastructure Gets Green Light

The committee also approved the release of £250,000 for cycling infrastructure improvements on Mandela Way. The funds, derived from a section 106 agreement1, will be used to improve road safety for cyclists, particularly at junctions with Pages Walk, Dunton Road, and Rolls Road.

Key Objectives:

  • Improved Safety: The scheme aims to reduce accidents and improve safety for cyclists, especially at key junctions.
  • Future-Proofing: The project will prepare the area for increased cycling, aligning with Southwark's strategic objectives outlined in the Streets for People strategy, Cycling Plan, Southwark Council Delivery Plan, Southwark Plan 2022, and Climate Change Strategy.
  • Healthy Streets Upgrades: The scheme includes new planting and improved pavements, enhancing the overall street environment.

Community Engagement

The committee emphasized the importance of community engagement in shaping the design of the scheme. Public consultation will be undertaken to gather feedback and ensure the project meets the needs of local residents and cyclists.

Upcoming Meetings

  1. Section 106 agreements are legal agreements between local authorities and developers. They are used to mitigate the impact of new developments on the local community. ↩

Health and Wellbeing Board

Health and Wellbeing Board - Thursday 11 December 2025 10.00 am

The Southwark Health and Wellbeing Board is scheduled to meet on 11 December 2025 to discuss a range of topics, including updates on the Healthy Work and Lives strategy, the Financial Shield project, the SC1 London Life Sciences Innovation District, and the annual health protection report. The meeting will also include verbal updates on neighbourhood planning and the Health of the Borough event.

December 11, 2025
Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Thursday 11 December 2025 6.30 pm

The Overview & Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss the council's budget, the cost of living crisis, and the council's workforce. The committee was also scheduled to review its work programme for the coming year.

December 11, 2025
Licensing Sub-Committee

Licensing Sub-Committee - Thursday 11 December 2025 10.00 am

The Licensing Sub-Committee met to consider a new premises licence application for Crispies, a restaurant on Walworth Road. The application requested permission to provide late night refreshment until 4am, seven days a week. This was met with objections from the Metropolitan Police, the council's licensing team, and local residents.

December 11, 2025
Pensions Advisory Panel

Pensions Advisory Panel - Tuesday 9 December 2025 12.15 pm

The Pensions Advisory Panel was scheduled to meet to discuss the preliminary results of the 2025 actuarial valuation, review the fund's investment strategy, and receive updates on conflict zones, administration strategy, asset allocation, responsible investment, and the pension fund's statement of accounts. The agenda also included updates from the Local Pension Board and Pension Services.

December 09, 2025
Planning Committee (Major Applications) B

Planning Committee (Major Applications) B - Tuesday 9 December 2025 6.30 pm

The Planning Committee (Major Applications) B of Southwark Council met on 9 December 2025, to consider planning applications for the Former Blackfriars Crown Court and Southwark Underground Station. The committee was also scheduled to approve the minutes from their previous meeting.

December 09, 2025
Planning Committee (Smaller Applications)

Planning Committee (Smaller Applications) - Monday 8 December 2025 7.00 pm

The Planning Committee (Smaller Applications) was scheduled to review planning applications for three locations: Potters Fields Park, 10 Gallery Road, and land rear of 19-49 Bush Road. The committee was also scheduled consider the minutes from their meeting on 11 November 2025.

December 08, 2025
Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission

Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission - Wednesday 3 December 2025 7.00 pm

The Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission met to discuss the Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) annual report, the Connect to Work programme, and to interview Councillor Jasmine Ali, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees. The commission also reviewed its work programme for the upcoming year.

December 03, 2025
Cabinet

Cabinet - Tuesday 2 December 2025 11.00 am

At a meeting on 2 December 2025, Southwark Council's Cabinet addressed a range of issues, from housing and education to community safety and financial planning. Key decisions included approving the demolition of Marie Curie House, reviewing school standards, and outlining a new resident engagement strategy. The cabinet also discussed and made decisions on land disposal in East Dulwich, strategic community infrastructure funding, and the Tustin Estate renewal project.

December 02, 2025
Housing Scrutiny Commission

Housing Scrutiny Commission - Tuesday 2 December 2025 7.00 pm

The Housing Scrutiny Commission met to discuss district heating, the Good Landlord Plan, and the commission's work programme for the coming year. The commission reviewed the preparedness of the council's district heating systems for winter, and discussed ways to address overly warm homes. Members also received an update on the Good Landlord Plan, which aims to improve housing services in the borough, and agreed to the commission's work programme for 2025-26.

December 02, 2025
Health and Social Care Scrutiny Commission

Health and Social Care Scrutiny Commission - Monday 1 December 2025 7.00 pm

The Health and Social Care Scrutiny Commission meeting included a presentation on hoarding, an update on the Blue Badge scheme, and a review of Healthwatch Southwark's annual report and priorities. Also scheduled for discussion was the scrutiny review of cancer prevention and early diagnosis.

December 01, 2025
Licensing Sub-Committee

Licensing Sub-Committee - Thursday 18 December 2025 10.00 am

December 18, 2025