The meeting was scheduled to discuss the redevelopment of two sites. Councillors were asked to declare any interests they had in the applications, and were scheduled to be asked to confirm the minutes of the previous Strategic Planning Committee meeting, which was held on the 31st of July 2024.

Land at Surrey Canal Road, Stockholm Road, Bolina Road and Rolins Street, London SE15 and SE16

Councillors were provided with a report pack that contained a hybrid planning application seeking full permission to build the first phase of a development of the land at Surrey Canal Road, Stockholm Road, Bolina Road and Rolins Street. The application proposed the construction of two clusters of tall buildings that would deliver new public realm squares and improved transport links. It was a resubmission of a similar application that was approved in January of 2022.

Councillors were advised that there had been some changes to the funding arrangements of the planned Surrey Canal Overground Station. Under the terms of the new proposal, the developer, Renewal Group, would provide a financial contribution to the construction of the station. This would lead to a reduction in the number of affordable housing units provided under the scheme. The developer, who had previously been granted planning permission to develop the site in January of 2022, explained that the revisions to the scheme were necessary to address the emerging changes to the Building Regulations and the impact of construction and inflation costs.

SCOTT HOUSE, 185 GROVE STREET, LONDON SE8 3SH - Ref: DC/24/135192

The report pack also contained a report on an application for the redevelopment of the existing Scott House building at 185 Grove Street. This was a resubmission of a report that was scheduled to be discussed at the previous Strategic Planning Committee meeting, but was withheld by members.

The report set out a recommendation to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of the site. The scheme proposed the part demolition of the existing building, which was locally listed in 2020, and the construction of a 31-storey tower. The new building would provide 502 student rooms, of which 35% would be classed as affordable, and employment workspace (Use Class E). The building would be car-free, with two blue badge bays and a loading bay, and would provide 408 cycle parking spaces.

The report detailed how the scheme would result in less than substantial harm on a lower scale to nearby Grade II listed buildings. However, the report advised that the harm would be outweighed by a number of public benefits including the delivery of the equivalent of 200 residential dwellings, which would represent 12% of the Borough’s annual housing target, and the provision of jobs through the creation of new employment workspace.

The report pack also included minutes from a meeting that was held on 11 July 2024 with residents to discuss the proposed scheme. The meeting was chaired by Councillor Cooper. Four residents were present at the meeting, and expressed concerns about the loss of a locally listed building, the impact of the proposed development on the existing occupiers of Scott House, and the increasing number of student accommodation buildings in the borough. The applicant’s team, which included Phoebe Juggins from the developer Tribe Grove Street Limited, explained that they considered the redevelopment of the site for student accommodation to be an efficient use of land, and that the scheme would contribute to the increasing need for student accommodation in the borough.