Joseph Homes has secured planning permission for a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and affordable housing development at Sylvan Grove in the Old Kent Road opportunity area in London.
Designed by tp bennett, the scheme comprises a 34-storey tower offering 688 student bedrooms and an adjoining seven-storey building providing 23 affordable, three- and four-bedroom family housing units.
In the PBSA building, onsite amenities include a top-floor lounge and external terrace, study space, communal kitchen and dining area and a gym.
Residents of the affordable housing building will have access to a ground level courtyard garden as well as a rooftop terrace and a play space for children. The scheme will also provide 1,991 sq m of employment space and a new square.
The building is set to achieve BREEAM Excellent and an A rating for air quality for both the PBSA and residential components and biodiverse landscaping provided at ground and roof levels will provide relief from the site’s industrial surroundings.
Joseph Rajah, CEO of Joseph Homes, said: “We are delighted Southwark councillors have supported our scheme by resolving to grant consent for our application. Our plans will deliver high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation for the 11,000 students currently living in private residences in Southwark. Our proposals will help free up much-needed family housing and contribute to London’s acute affordable housing need, as well as benefit the local community through our commitments to a carbon net zero future to the wider planet.”
Nenad Manasijevic, principal director at tp bennett, added: “We are pleased that our proposals for Sylvan Grove will be able to provide high-quality student homes in south London. This is a typology that has been recently overlooked but is in high demand. The mixed-use nature of the scheme will allow residents to join together and take ownership of their living quarters. Providing communal and outdoor space is an essential part of this, fostering a sense of community and creating a dynamic environment that goes beyond traditional student housing norms.”
