The Planning Committee (Major Applications) B of Southwark Council met on Wednesday 6 March 2024 to discuss a significant planning application for the Tower Bridge Business Complex. The committee granted planning permission for amendments to an existing permission, subject to revised conditions and the completion of a new legal agreement.

The primary focus of the meeting was the application for a Section 73 minor material amendment to planning permission 17/AP/4088 at the Tower Bridge Business Complex, located at 100 Clements Road, also known as the Biscuit Factory & Bermondsey Campus Site on Keetons Road, London SE16 4DG. The proposed amendments sought to increase the total number of homes from 1,536 to 1,624, increase the provision of social rent homes, alter the massing and architecture, change the quantum and allocation of non-residential floorspace, remove Block R and its associated basement ramp, revise the public realm, playspace and tree planting, enhance the fire strategy, increase communal spaces, reconfigure parking, and revise the energy and overheating strategy. The application was accompanied by an Environmental Statement.

The committee heard presentations from officers, objectors, and the applicant's representatives. Following extensive discussion, including input from ward councillors, the committee resolved to grant planning permission. This decision was made subject to revised conditions to those on the original 2020 permission and the completion of a new Section 106 legal agreement. The Director of Planning and Growth was also authorised to make minor modifications to the proposed conditions and to refuse planning permission if the legal agreement was not completed by 6 June 2024. The committee also agreed to take the environmental information into account, consider potential equalities impacts, and notify the Secretary of State of the decision.