Southwark (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Southwark Council has unanimously approved a £350m life sciences hub in London Bridge, creating 890 jobs and providing 33,500 sqm of laboratory space.
Three new structures will be erected at Snowsfields Quarter in London Bridge and West Bermondsey Ward as part of the design, which is being accepted by the Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Foundation and Oxford Snowsfields Development Limited.
At a meeting last Tuesday( October 14), the council’s Planning Committee approved the plans. The design will give 360,000 square bases of multipurpose space in total, including 245,000 square bases of lab space for study in areas including neuroscience, genetics, and medical technology.
Situated in SC1 London, South Central London’s health and life lores invention sector, the development will be spread across three plots, appertained to as Plot 1, Plot 2, and Plot 3. It’ll be conterminous to Guy’s Hospital. The first plot is positioned west of Kipling Street, which is now enthralled by a tavern named The Miller and a collection of stores with one- story apartments above it.
All of the structures will be removed to make way for a new, six- story structure that will house services and life wisdom labs.
In addition to the proposed rooftop plant enclosure, there will be a pub on the first, ground, and basement levels. An eight-story parking structure on Plot 2, east of Kipling Street, will be removed to make way for a 15-story structure with a ground-floor “Science on Display” public atrium, reception area, and café.
The remaining portion of the structure will house offices and life science labs, along with restrooms and showers. The three-story c-shaped block that currently occupies Plot 3, which is situated in the same vicinity. After it is removed, a building with commercial and more life science space will be built in its place. It will be two, four, and seven stories tall.
In addition, the building will have two ground floor café/retail spaces and a two-story basement.
According to Laurie Lee, CEO of Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Foundation, the development will help the locals and inhabitants of Southwark in “many ways” during last week’s meeting.
Mr Lee said:
“All of us will potentially benefit from the health research conducted here, SC1 is about inclusive growth and Snowsfields Quarter will inspire and train the next generation of scientists.
[The project will deliver] 890 accessible jobs including for Southwark residents, [which is] a significant contribution to Southwark Council’s target of 3,000 life science jobs and to the London Growth Plan’s Inclusive Talent Strategy.”
He added:
“The development will generate nine times more economic activity, increasing footfall for local businesses and business rates for the council, and we will improve the local park, biodiversity, the streetscape and security in Hamilton Square.”
There were 127 answers to the ideas during the public consultation phase, including 110 objections, 15 supportive remarks, and two neutral views. The development was criticized for being “out of keeping” with the area’s existing character and for raising safety concerns regarding the planned facilities and the research being conducted there.
The loss of the parking lot, which now houses a specialized cancer hospital with services for individuals who travel long distances from all over the nation and those who are too weak or unable to use public transportation, was another point of contention.
During last week’s meeting, We Love Snowsfields, a community group which represents Snowsfields residents, spoke out against the plans. A group member said:
“The community believes nobody is listening to our concerns about construction traffic, building height and essential mitigation works that we’ve spent the last two years working on.
Construction will definitely create noise, air pollution, high winds, loss of light and privacy, [and will] damage the health of vulnerable residents and neighbours in Hamilton Square estate.”
They added:
“This application doesn’t just intimidate our elderly residents, huge numbers of heavy, diesel-polluting, construction trucks in our medieval streets also will endanger young parents and children going to the Arc Nursery and Snowsfields Primary.
It’s all pain and no gain for this community. Like you, the local community wants to see this site well-developed – but properly. We expect it to respect the plan, and we expect you to honour this, this evening.”
The plans were ultimately approved by the Planning Committee.
The council is expected to receive more than £400,000 in Section 106 money, which will go towards improvements to Guy Street Park, while over £500,000 will be spent on environmental works to a neighbouring estate.
What sustainability features target net‑zero operation?
Achieving net zero functional carbon by employing energy-effective structure technologies and systems to drastically reduce energy consumption. exercising 100 reactionary- energy-free operations, probably through integration of renewable energy sources similar as solar panels and copping renewable electricity.
Meeting high environmental norms with instruments like BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Platinum, which emphasize energy and water effectiveness, low carbon emigrations, and healthy inner surroundings.
Incorporating sustainable structure design practices to optimize natural light, ventilation, and sequestration, minimizing energy demand. Enhancing biodiversity by creating green spaces and planting native species to support ecosystem services.
