Greystar’s The Quill recommended for approval

Southwark planning officers have recommended the approval of Greystar’s 905-bedroom student scheme The Quill, in London Bridge, SE1. Development would see 10-storey Capital House at 32-46 Weston Street demolished and replaced with a 39-storey building with a maximum height of 137.9m. The plans have been downsized from Greystar’s initial proposals of a 46-storey 1,025-bedroom student scheme rising to a height of 153.3m. The amendment has seen Greystar drop plans to develop the Migration Museum in favour of flexible retail and office space. It will include a £34.1m payment in place of affordable housing provision rather than the off-site affordable housing and £5m payment initially proposed. The off-site delivery was deemed to provide insufficient levels of affordable housing, whereas the payment was considered “significantly in excess” of the maximum provision. Greystar acquired the site for £54m in April 2017 with consent for a residential and student housing scheme. Both schemes envisaged a 31-storey tower with either 470 student housing units or 119 residential apartments. In 2011, Southwark Council resolved to grant consent for a student housing scheme. A further planning consent from 2015 supported the development of a tall building of up to 31 storeys on the site. To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette