Southwark is proud to announce the first-ever accredited Living Wage Building in the borough - one of only five in the UK.
The newly redeveloped Tower Bridge Court (TBC.London) by FORE Partnership is the first building in Southwark where all jobs connected to the building, including third-party contractors, are paid the London Living Wage of £13.85 per hour.
Once occupied, the building will lead to 750 employees paid the London Living Wage.
This landmark development is part of a broader work led by Southwark Council, which became an accredited Living Wage Place in March 2020.
With over 400 accredited Living Wage Employers now based in the borough, the council’s efforts have helped secure better pay for more than 7,000 workers in recent years.
Team London Bridge BID, a key member of Southwark's Living Wage Action Group, played an instrumental role in helping the building secure its accreditation.
Councillor John Batteson, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business, said: “Southwark is proud to be leading the charge on fair pay. From the smallest charities to the largest new developments like TBC.London, we’re showing that decent wages and strong communities go hand in hand.
“The first Living Wage Building in Southwark sends a strong message. It shows that employers, developers and councils can work together to make the real Living Wage the new normal and create a fairer Southwark for all workers.”
Basil Demeroutis, Managing Partner at FORE Partnership, the firm behind TBC.London said: “For us, TBC.London being a Living Wage Building isn’t a badge to put on the door; it’s part of a much bigger commitment to how we think about real estate. Buildings are about people, and paying a wage that reflects the actual cost of living is really the baseline for fairness.
"It’s especially meaningful to do this here in Southwark, a borough that has been recognised as a Living Wage Place, because it shows how collective action can support whole communities. We see this as setting a standard, not just for TBC.London, but for the industry more broadly.”
Sofia Alexandrache, Responsible Business & Member Engagement Director, Team London Bridge, said: “Southwark’s first Living Wage Building is a real milestone, and we’re thrilled that TBC.London is leading the way. As part of this partnership, Team London Bridge is working with local businesses to turn global challenges into local commitments, creating a Responsible Business framework for social, environmental, and economic success.”
Lydia Reddyhoff, Senior Project Manager at the Living Wage Foundation said: “We would like to congratulate TBC.London, now officially Southwark’s very first Living Wage Building! They have raised the bar in fair pay and also making history in their borough. The Living Wage Building scheme is more than a badge - it’s a bold commitment to ensure everyone who works in a building, from front-of-house staff to cleaners, security teams, and contractors, earns at least the real Living Wage.
"We're pleased to see Southwark demonstrating their commitment to making a Living Wage Place in the borough.”
In addition to ensuring all tenant’s commit to paying their staff the London Living Wage, the building has been designed with social and environmental values at its core. The design uses innovative sustainability practices. The building’s design has achieved:
- BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum certification
- 98.96% of construction waste diverted from landfill
- Energy performance 71% better than the average office
- Reuse of 40 tonnes of 1930s steel