Over 1,600 new homes approved for Old Kent Road this month

Two major planning applications were approved in June which will deliver more than 1,600 new homes.

The first development is at Malt Street, where 1,300 new homes – including 83 new social rented homes and 48 intermediate homes in the first phase – have been approved.

The application, which also includes affordable retail space and contributes to the new Surrey Canal Linear Park was approved by the council’s planning committee on 3 June (subject to referral to the Secretary of State).

The Malt Street site, just off Old Kent Road, is currently used primarily for storage and by Travis Perkins as a builders’ merchant.

Overall, the new development, which will be made up of 11 new buildings from 5 to 44 storeys, will offer 40 per cent affordable housing (a significant increase over the 20 per cent originally offered) and at least a quarter of the housing will be social rent.

The second development is on Verney Road where the planning committee approved a further 338 new homes – including 112 affordable homes made up of 79 social rented and 33 intermediate rent (subject to referral to the Mayor of London).

The development will consist of three buildings at 18, 19 and 24 storeys and will also provide space for offices/workspaces and landscaping. It also includes a contribution to the new Linear Park.

Cllr Johnson Situ, Cabinet member for Growth, Development and Planning, said:

“The vision for Old Kent Road is to build on its unique creative character as a place where industry can thrive alongside new homes and quality open spaces.

We’re committed to delivering the social rent and genuinely affordable homes Southwark needs. With the addition of these recent applications, we’ve already secured over 1,000 social rent homes along Old Kent Road and we’re continuing to push developers to provide as much essential affordable housing as possible, especially at social rents.”