Green light for 25 new council homes on the Styles House estate

10 March 2021

25 new council homes are set to be built on the Styles House estate after Southwark Council approved the proposals for a new residential development at Planning Committee last month.
 
The proposals comprise a new 14-storey residential tower, at the junction of The Cut and Hatfields, which will provide 25 new homes, all of which will be for social rent.
 
Styles House Estate Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) has worked closely with sustainability specialists, igloo Regeneration, Bell Phillips architects and Southwark Council to design a scheme that's compatible with the existing estate and will provide a mix of one and two bed homes. A voluntary ballot on the plans was held in February 2020 with 90 per cent of existing Styles House estate residents supporting the proposal.
 
The new tower will be enabled through a land-exchange deal with Transport for London (TfL), which is seeking permission to build new office and retail space, and much needed affordable workspace, above Southwark Underground station, adjacent to the estate.
 
Southwark has the most ambitious council house building programme of any local authority in Britain.
 
The council has committed to build 11,000 new council homes by 2043 and is already on track to deliver or have commenced construction on 2,500 of these by the end of 2022.
 
The project will see enhancements to the community gardens in the estate and a large new tenant meeting hall which will be accessed directly from The Cut. The new block also incorporates air source heat pumps which will enable the project to exceed building regulations for carbon reduction requirements.
 
Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Council Housing said: “I’m delighted that this scheme can go ahead, facilitated by a land-exchange with TfL.
 
"It's by taking an innovative approach to seeking out the difficult-to-find land needed for new homes that we will meet our ambitious targets. Developments such as this one will ensure we stay on track to deliver 11,000 new council homes, across the borough, by 2043.
 
"Working closely with both the Styles House estate TMO and TfL, we've been able to get the go-ahead for new housing that will provide 25 new homes for individuals, couples and families currently on our housing waiting list, alongside others in housing need.”
 
Styles House TMO said: “These are the first council homes to be built in Borough and Bankside (and the old Cathedrals ward) for a number of years through a scheme led by residents. Hopefully residents on other estates will be given the opportunity to develop more council homes in the same way that we have.”
 
Mark Hallett, Development Director, igloo Regeneration said: “I am pleased that this innovative project has achieved this important milestone. Using igloo’s Footprint® internationally recognised investment methodology we have endeavoured to create additional value and bind our stakeholders’ aspirations into the fabric of the project by meeting the ambitious objectives of the TMO and the London Borough of Southwark.”
 
Bell Phillips architects said: “Bell Phillips are proud to help the local community achieve their vision to create new affordable homes, and a community facility for local people. By working with the Styles House residents we were able to create an ambitious proposal that marries the old and the new with a community garden at its heart, forming one estate and one community.”

ENDS

Please note, this scheme is subject to planning approval of the adjacent TfL site (as described above).

Page last updated: 10 March 2021