Building has reached the highest point on a building that will host 57 socially rented sheltered homes for people over 65 in Bermondsey.
Developers JTRE are building the Appleby Blue Almshouse homes alongside local charity United St Saviour’s, which will manage the building at 94-116 Southwark Park Road.
Appleby Blue Almshouse will be up to five storeys high at some points. Some locals objected before planning permission was originally given in 2018, arguing that the height of the new building will overshadow the surrounding neighbourhood, which is largely low-rise.
JTRE said the new development of self-contained one and two-bedroom flats will “allow residents to live as independently as possible for as long as possible”. Facilities will include a landscaped courtyard garden, 24-hour shared spaces, a library space, meeting rooms, a spa and wellbeing centre and a rooftop allotment. Some 51 of the flats will be two-bedroom and six will have one bedroom. Eleven of the flats will be fully wheelchair accessible. Building is set to complete in 2022.
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The almshouse constitutes JTRE’s affordable housing requirement in return for building its massive Triptych Bankside luxury development on Park Street near Tate Modern. Triptych Bankside, which will cost £400 million, will have 169 flats when completed next year. Studio flats are currently going for £720,000, with prices for larger properties rising to more than £3 million.
Juraj Marko, managing director at JTRE London, said: “We are very proud to be involved with Appleby Blue as our first UK project that will be completed so the topping out is a truly exciting moment for us.
“At JTRE London, we create contemporary places and spaces for life and living fit for the 21st century and this demonstrates the breadth of knowledge and expertise that our team can bring to the table. We look forward to hitting many more milestones in the capital.”
The site was recently visited by Year 11 students from Harris Academy Bermondsey, who are learning about the construction industry. The students said: “After a year of lockdown learning it was really great to end the programme on a high with a real-life site visit!”
Applications will soon be open for places at the almshouse. If you are interested in moving into the Appleby Blue Almshouse contact United St Saviour’s at info@ustsc.org.uk or on 020 7089 9014 for more information. As well as being over the age of 65, you must have lived in the borough for a minimum of three years and be on a low income.