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Council green-lights latest plans to transform Old Kent Road

9 December 2020

Southwark Council has agreed further consultation on a revised plan for one of London’s largest regeneration schemes – along one of Britain’s oldest and most historic thoroughfares – which reveals significant changes in response to feedback from the local community.

Residents and businesses will be invited by the council to feedback on new plans for along the Old Kent Road when this round of public consultation opens in January 2021 until April 2021.

Over 2,000 people have had their say on plans for the area since the council started consulting in early 2015.

During the last major consultation on the December 2017 draft plan, the council held 35 community events and received over 750 responses. This feedback, along with the ongoing monthly Old Kent Road forum and the council’s continued community engagement, helped inform the final draft of plans. These now include:

  • Two brand new town centres along the Old Kent Road
  • 20,000 new homes, including at least 7,000 affordable homes of which at least 5,000 will be social rent homes
  • 10,000 additional new jobs (20,000 in total), including a green new deal that creates jobs
  • Two new tube stations on the Bakerloo Line extension
  • A net zero carbon status by 2030, including a carbon-saving heat network
  • Five new heritage conservation areas
  • A state of the art youth facility
  • A new health centre
  • New parks and green spaces
  • A new further education facility
  • A new secondary school, two new primary schools and the potential to expand nine existing primary school in the area

Cllr Johnson Situ, cabinet member for climate emergency, planning and transport, said: “We long knew we needed to be ambitious if we wanted to meet the need for more social and genuinely affordable housing in London, while also increasing employment opportunities and designing new neighbourhoods that deliver new open spaces, community facilities, improvements to air quality and a shift to sustainable travel like walking and cycling. In the wake of the pandemic, these priorities have crystallised further to form a vital part of our green recovery from COVID-19. I’m particularly proud that Southwark is leading the way as one of the first local authorities to make a firm commitment to deliver a carbon neutral Area Action Plan.

“The Old Kent Road Area Action Plan meets all these needs with a refreshed focus on connecting communities, effectively building two brand new town centres along the Old Kent Road under which the Bakerloo line extension will run.

“We are grateful to the thousands of local people who have spoken to us about the plans over the past three years, helping us understand their concerns and priorities. We looked at the demand for affordable homes and in consultation with the community, we’ve already approved nearly 8,000 new homes in the area with 38% being genuinely affordable. This is the highest average being delivered in the whole of London, putting us on track to surpass the action plan’s policy that at least 35% of new homes will be affordable.

“This revised version of the plan has taken into account issues raised in earlier consultations, especially around creating a greener, healthier environment. The latest version includes a new cornerstone policy which means the development of Old Kent Road will be net carbon neutral by 2030, as well as plans for development in the area to be car free. We have also included a map and more information about how new developments will link to the District Heat Network, significantly reducing carbon emissions and lowering local residents’ energy bills. 

“We recognise the importance of business and industry in the Old Kent Road, contributing to the local economy and unique industrial heritage of the area. This final draft of plans outlines how we will double the number of jobs from 10,000 in earlier drafts to 20,000 with many paying the London Living Wage, as well as proposing five new heritage conservation areas which identify and protect from development all listed and locally important buildings. We’ve also included a new policy that sets out how the Old Kent Road will evolve from a place to pass through to a destination boasting an innovative mix of commercial, residential and leisure uses at a scale not previously seen in London, integrating new with old”.

For more information about the regeneration of Old Kent Road, visit www.oldkentroad.org.uk

Page last updated: 09 December 2020

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