Plans to bring together three buildings in Bermondsey to provide 69 apartments and a 137-bed ‘aparthotel’ have been given the go ahead by the council.
The existing site at 151-157 Tower Bridge Road already features 106 residential apartments, a 41-unit aparthotel – a hotel providing self-catering apartments as well as ordinary hotel facilities – and flexible office/retail.
However, First Base and Starwood Capital instructed global architecture practice Arney Fender Katsalidis to design a scheme to refurbish the existing buildings and to reduce the residential apartments to 69, but expand the aparthotel.
The architects also plan to install balconies on to the buildings and revamp the ground-floor commercial space, some of which currently sits empty.
The ground floor of the buildings are expected to bring together a community of independent shops and boutiques, as well as flexible workspace for creative businesses in Bermondsey.
A new courtyard will also be built at the heart of the development with mature trees planted and a seating area.
Commenting on the planning approval, director of First Base Barry Jessup said: “We are delighted that Southwark Council share our enthusiasm for bringing forward these unique and characterful buildings to Bermondsey.
“As with all First Base schemes, we look forward to combining high-quality architecture that will become iconic to this area with active and enlivened public spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Earl Arney, of Arney Fender Katsalidis, added: “We are delighted with our collaboration with First Base and Starwood Capital and the design vision we created with Southwark. 151-157 Tower Bridge Road is a project of civic repair at both the architectural and urban scale.
“Existing structures are adaptively reused, delivering much-needed housing for Londoners in a significantly reduced time period, while also enhancing the environmental sustainability of the development. The result is a reduction of over 1,800 tonnes of CO2 which is equivalent to 720,000 new trees.”