Southwark’s regeneration measures for all residents

25 January 2019

Southwark Council’s Cabinet has enforced several recommendations at its January meeting, said to together help ensure that all its residents benefit from the regenerational transformation of parts of the borough.

An updated social regeneration framework “Regeneration that works for all” along with new social regeneration indicators will allow the council to consider and measure the impact of new schemes on a range of issues that affect residents, including life expectancy, physical and mental health, social mobility, education and employment rates, access to culture and housing quality.

Another report agreed by Cabinet makes changes to the draft New Southwark Plan, in a final opportunity to comment, before the plan is submitted to the Planning Inspector this summer.

The changes take account of previous comments and include:

• The removal of the term ‘affordable housing’, which is ‘too general’ a term, from Southwark policy, with a clearer commitment to social rent and intermediate housing
• A new obligation on major development schemes to provide 10 per cent affordable workspace
• A policy requirement for developments to consider locally listed buildings and structures to add strength to the protection of buildings on a local list

In line with this, Cabinet also approved a new lease for the Livesey Exchange to develop and run a new space on the Old Kent Road.

This new community hub will provide retail and affordable business and community spaces to support local businesses, event and meeting space, and training for local people.

The project will be largely funded by Southwark Council and the GLA’s good growth fund, with an additional contribution from the Livesey Exchange Crowdfund.

Cllr Johnson Situ, Cabinet Member for Growth, Development and Planning, said: “I would urge all our residents to read the draft New Southwark Plan and let us know what they think of this progressive plan, which is the product of several years’ listening to local people.

“The latest changes show that we’ve listened to consultation responses to the plan and are open to suggestions, and want this plan to be the policy basis that ensures regeneration works for all.

Further commenting on the changes, Situ added: “The council is always listening to local people and we know how important it is to our residents to have affordable workspace as well as genuinely affordable homes.

“This fantastic initiative with the Livesey Exchange on the Old Kent Road demonstrates that we aren’t just talking the talk in our policies, but are also walking the walk as we take forward our major growth plans.

“The community hub will be a great addition to the Old Kent Road, encouraging small businesses, helping local people to upskill, and making Southwark the destination for small business.”

Page last updated: 25 January 2019