Southwark Student Tower Plans Knocked Back

The planning committee of Southwark Council has rejected plans by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands for the construction of a new development adjacent to Tabard Square in south-east London.

The site is has Great Dover Street bounding it to the west along with Borough Station, Long Lane to the north, Silvester Street to the south and Tabard Street to the east with the Rolfe Judd designed Tabard Square on the other side of that and rising 82 metres in height.

The proposals would have replaced the modernist Conoco House at 200 Great Dover Street in favour of a 17 storey tower offering accommodation for 237 students, ground level retail units, and replacement office space in a separate building to make up for the demolition of the existing structure.

Despite the high-rise neighbour, the site remains a sensitive one to develop thanks to the close proximity it has with St George the Martyr Church, and as a result the slab-like nature of the tower block won over few fans in the local community as it would have presented its full bulk behind the church if built unlike Tabard Square which has its tower element angled away to create a more slender look.

These are the second plans by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands for the developer of the scheme, Helical Bar. Originally proposals were mooted for the construction of a 19 storey building that would house up to 350 students but these were scaled down following consultation.