New plans propose student tower atop Southwark Underground station

New plans have been submitted for a development on top of Southwark Underground station.

Helical and Places for London, the property company for Transport for London (TfL), are proposing to build a 15-storey student accommodation tower on top of the station in Blackfriars Road.

The scheme is part of a 2023 joint venture agreement between the developer and TfL which also includes the redevelopment of over-station sites at Bank and Paddington. 

The Southwark site secured planning permission in July 2022 for a 17-storey office building designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM).

The fresh plans, also designed by AHMM, propose a completely new design which will reduce the size of the tower to 15 storeys with 429 student studio rooms.

The developer has also proposed to meet its affordable housing requirements by providing 44 affordable homes in a separate nine-storey building in Joan Street.

A community space is proposed on the southern part of the ground floor of this building.

The project team includes Gardiner & Theobald, Rapleys and Aecom. Other firms involved include Heyne Tillett Steel, Studio GB, Hoare Lea, Curtins and Mace.

Pictured top: Southwark Underground station (Picture: Google Street View)