47-49 Tanner Street
- Client: Bywater
- Architect: Ackroyd Lowrie
- Contacts: Sean Tickle, Chris Brown
- LPA: London Borough of Southwark
The proposals for 47-49 Tanner Street secure up to 112 co-living studios across 6 storeys on an underutilised brownfield site in the heart of Bermondsey. The existing employment site currently features a locally listed warehouse which has been carefully incorporated into the design and will be given a new lease of life.
The majority of the existing locally listed warehouse frontage alongside the new build elements and the much of the internal historic fabric of the building will be re-incorporated throughout the new development, resulting in a unique aesthetic which will be enjoyed by the new occupants. The existing contemporary extensions and hardstanding on site will be replaced with new build elements rising up to 6 storeys in height. These elements respect the primacy of the warehouse building, through the use of set backs and complimentary materials whilst creating an attractive design that compliments the character of the Bermondsey Street Conservation Area.
The co-living accommodation will feature a large co‑working lounge, Communal kitchen and dining areas, alongside a gym, laundry and generous rooftop amenity space with exceptional views of the London skyline. The proposals exceed the London Plan’s Large‑Scale Purpose‑Built Shared Living space benchmarks, ensuring each resident benefits from high‑quality shared and private spaces.
The scheme is car-free and encourages sustainable travel method through the provision of dedicated cycle stores and hire-bikes available to all future residents. A significant payment towards improvement to the C14 cycle way have also been secured through a legal agreement.
The development will revitalise the brownfield site in a sustainable accessible location to deliver much-needed new homes for London and will also provide a sizeable payment in lieu of on-site affordable housing, equivalent to 40%.
Member of Southwark’s planning committee unanimously voted to approve the proposals and praised the quality of the co-living proposals and the considerable efforts made to retention of the historic warehouse.
Overall, the developments proposal will provide the following key benefits:
- Creation of up to 112 purpose-built shared living units which contribute towards Southwark’s housing targets, including 11% wheelchair accessible units;
- A significant payment in lieu of on-site affordable housing equivalent to 40% (by habitable room) to be secured via S106 agreement;
- All accommodation and facilities will meet and exceed the standards outlined in GLA’s Large-scale Purpose-Built Shared Living LPG;
- Revitalisation and redevelopment of an underutilised Brownfield Site within the Bermondsey Area Vision and Bermondsey Street Conservation Area;
- Retention and repair of the original warehouse facades and reuse of internal features, over and above the level of retention shown in the extant scheme;
- An environmentally sustainable scheme, with the aim to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating;
- Enhanced urban greening and biodiversity through the provision of high quality greening solutions throughout the development;
- Car-free development with secure cycle parking and a cycle-hire scheme thereby encouraging sustainable modes of transportation;
- Improvements to the Highway associated with the new development.
