The Planning Committee (Major Applications) A of Southwark Council met on Tuesday 26 November 2024 to discuss two key items: a proposed Article 4(1) Direction concerning the Dulwich Wood Conservation Area and a major planning application for Chatelain House in Walworth Road. The committee approved the Article 4(1) Direction and granted planning permission for the Chatelain House development, subject to conditions and a legal agreement.

Proposed Article 4(1) Direction for Dulwich Wood Conservation Area

The committee approved the making of a non-immediate Article 4(1) Direction to withdraw permitted development rights within part of the Dulwich Wood Conservation Area, specifically in areas adjacent to or within ancient woodland. This direction, which will come into effect on 30 January 2025, means that certain developments previously permitted without planning permission will now require express consent from the council. The aim is to protect the ancient woodland and its buffer zone from potential harm, ensuring that development proposals are properly assessed against planning policies. The committee also approved a six-week public consultation period for the direction and noted the Equality Impact and Needs Analysis.

Chatelain House, 182-202 Walworth Road, London, SE17

Planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of Chatelain House, involving the part demolition and retention of the existing building. The proposal includes a mixed-use development comprising purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), residential accommodation, commercial, business and service floorspace, and community floorspace, within two buildings ranging from six to seven storeys.

Key aspects of the approved development include:

• Student Accommodation: 283 student bedrooms, with 10% designed to be accessible or adaptable.
• Affordable Housing: 23 new homes, all to be social rent tenure, located in a dedicated residential building. This exceeds the minimum requirement for affordable housing by habitable room, compensating for the inability to provide affordable student accommodation due to viability constraints.
• Community Space: A 177 sqm community space (Use Class F2) on the ground floor, intended to bring students and the local community together.
• Commercial Space: 475 sqm of flexible Use Class E commercial, business, and service units on the ground floor, providing active frontages to Walworth Road and Amelia Street.
• Public Realm: A publicly accessible courtyard of 580 sqm, creating a new pedestrian route between Amelia Street and Walworth Road, and enhancing biodiversity.
• Sustainability: The scheme incorporates partial retention of the existing structure, estimated to save 21% of upfront embodied carbon. It aims for BREEAM Excellent for the PBSA, maximises photovoltaic panel use, and includes green and blue roofs to manage surface water run-off.
• Transport: The development is car-free except for two accessible parking bays. It provides 258 long-stay cycle spaces and encourages sustainable travel through a Travel Plan and the revocation of local parking permits for future occupiers.

The decision was subject to the conditions set out in the report and addendum report, an additional condition requiring details of the play space and equipment to be approved by officers, and the applicant entering into an appropriate legal agreement. In the event that the legal agreement is not completed by 26 November 2025, the director of planning and growth is authorised to refuse planning permission.

Councillor Darren Merrill, speaking as a ward councillor, requested that the construction management plan consider the local low traffic neighbourhood and the needs of the police station regarding road closures.