GLA gives go-ahead to London Bridge life sciences scheme

Investor and developer CIT has secured a green light for a 20-storey life sciences-led development at Vinegar Yard, which forms a part of SC1, a new life sciences district at London Bridge, SE1. Initial plans for the scheme were submitted in 2018 but were revised in October 2021 after planning was refused. The updated project has been designed by architect Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in collaboration with Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. It will provide a total of 370,000 sq ft of commercial space for NHS clinical uses, offices and life sciences research companies. About 10% of the floor space is expected to be affordable and will include medical start-up incubator space and artists’ studios managed by Southwark Studios. The plans, approved by the mayor of London, also feature retail, lobby and public spaces on the ground floor, with 43% of the site given over to public realm. This will include a new urban garden at the east end of the site and 13 green terraces throughout the building. As part of the scheme, the existing warehouse building at 9 Fenning Street will be retained and converted. Ewen Puffett, director at CIT, said: “The project is the product of more than five years of hard work and close collaboration with the Greater London Authority, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College London, Southwark Council, and our local community, reflecting CIT’s commitment to the area with a vision to bring a lasting and positive social and economic impact to London Bridge.” Gareth Fox, partner at Montagu Evans, planning consultants on the development, said: “This approval, combining life sciences land uses and an occupation mechanism, is a first for London. “Not only will this scheme act as a catalyst for life-saving medical research at London Bridge but its approach to planning can be adopted elsewhere to help bring forward other centres for medical excellence across the capital.” To send feedback, e-mail evelina.grecenko@eg.co.uk or tweet @Gre_Eve or @EGPropertyNews Image: CIT View other planning applications in SE1 >>