More than half the flats in a new council-led development on the site of a former school in Bermondsey will be for private sale.
Southwark Council is building 26 council homes on the former Cherry Gardens school site between Southwark Park Road, Macks Road and Alexis Road. The other 30 homes in the project will be put up for private sale at market rates by developer Higgins Homes.
At 46 per cent affordable in terms of flats and 53 per cent in terms of habitable rooms this is above the minimum policy requirements in the council’s regeneration strategy.
Of the 26 new council homes, eleven will be 3-bed flats, eight will be 2-bed and seven will be one-bed. Six flats will be wheelchair-accessible. Thirteen local council tenants who need new housing will be able to apply for flats in the new development.
The development will range from two-storey terraces to five and six storeys. The ground floor flats will have private gardens and the development also includes two children’s playgrounds.
Higgins Homes held three public consultation sessions in January 2020 and an exhibition of the plans a few weeks later. Work on the new building is due to begin this summer and finish in 2023. Planning permission was given in April this year.
Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Council Housing, said, “I’m thrilled that we are partnering with Higgins Homes to provide much-needed new homes for people in Bermondsey. This varied development will cater to a range of needs and will allow a significant number of local council tenants on our housing register to move into a brand new home.”
Will Higgins, Land Director at Higgins Homes, said, “Higgins Homes are delighted to be working in partnership with Southwark Council to revitalise the former Cherry Garden School site. We will be delivering a quality development that includes much-needed affordable homes for the local community and we very much look forward to progressing on site now that the planning permission has been issued.”
Cherry Gardens School moved to Bellenden Road in Peckham in 2019.