Plans to transform the famous Old Kent Road take a step closer

13 December 2017

One of London’s largest regeneration schemes - along one of the city’s most famous, and historic thoroughfares - will be taking a step forward this month as Southwark Council agree further consultation on a revised plan.

Plans to create a brand new town centre along the Old Kent Road in Southwark include:

  • 20,000 news homes, 7,000 of which will be affordable
  • 10,000 new jobs
  • A new further education college or university
  • Three new tube stations on the Bakerloo Line extension
  • A new health centre
  • A new major cultural attraction
  • New parks and green spaces
  • A new secondary school, two new primary schools and expansions to nine existing primary school in the area

The new plan also offers two ‘firsts’ for London by proposing a large, mixed-use scheme and consulting on a new proposal for a local lettings scheme, which would ensure that a proportion of the new homes will be prioritised for existing local residents in housing need, which has never been done on this scale.

Cllr Peter John, Leader of the Council, said: “We know we need to be ambitious if we want to meet the need for more housing in London, whilst at the same time 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.

“The Old Kent Road Area Action Plan meets all this, effectively building a new town centre in central London.

“We have spent a long time speaking to local people about the plans and hearing what their main concerns and priorities are. We’ve looked at the demand for affordable homes and confirmed through our New Southwark Plan and the action plan that 35% of new homes will be affordable – that’s 7,000 new homes, including new council homes. These will all be made possible by the extension of the Bakerloo Line from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham, with the GLA and Treasury’s support.

“This revised version of the plan has also taken into account issues raised in earlier consultations, especially around traffic congestion and pollution. We also recognise the importance of business and industry in the Old Kent Road contributing to the local economy and playing a key part in the servicing of central London. We have changed our policies in the Old Kent Road AAP and the New Southwark Plan to be much clearer on what we expect in terms of providing new employment space, accommodating or relocating existing businesses and providing affordable workspace, establishing design requirements in the further draft of the AAP and proposing an innovative mix of commercial and residential uses at a scale not previously seen in London, that responds to the call in the New London Plan to take an innovative approach to addressing the needs fro both housing and employment growth.

“We have included more detail in our policies about providing affordable workspace, particularly to encourage rents suitable for the continuation of existing businesses as well as workspace providers which manage space on a non-profit basis to support small businesses and start-ups. We will continue to work with the existing business community to ensure the new business space provided is fit for purpose and businesses can continue to operate in new premises in the Old Kent Road or other local locations.” 

Page last updated: 13 December 2017

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