Berkeley Homes will have to reshuffle its Borough Triangle development plans to include a second staircase and possibly fewer storeys, a Southwark Council planning officer has indicated.
The developer plans to demolish Mercato Metropolitano, a popular hub of bars and small businesses, and build residential blocks of up to 46-storeys, on the Elephant and Castle site.
But the scheme has been complicated by Mayor Sadiq Khan’s February announcement that new residential buildings over 30 metres must have two staircases to improve fire safety.
At a public meeting, organised by Borough and Bankside ward councillors and local residents, a council planning officer said: “I would expect that the scheme is going to be revised not least because of the two staircase issue.”
“Our initial view as officers is that the scheme is too tall so we are going to be talking to Berkeley about that,” they added.
Concerned residents were informed of these recent developments at a public meeting held on the Scovell Estate in Elephant and Castle, on Thursday, March 16.
The required changes could result in a wholesale revision of the plans, given a second staircase could have implications for the scheme’s size and the number of flats it accommodates.
Berkeley’s initial plans are to build 838 flats across four blocks measuring 46, 42, 10 and 18 storeys and refurbish an existing three-storey building.
Local residents have expressed concerns about the building’s height, overshadowing, impact on the surrounding area and a ‘lack of affordable housing’.
There was particular concern that the 838 units planned were almost double the site’s indicative capacity of 438.
But a council document has since said that the 438 figure is “not clear and justified” and could “support a much greater quantum of development on the site”. Nonetheless, the 838 figure is likely to fall if a revised submission is made.
Site plan defined in red. Image: Southwark Council planning documents
While news of a revised planning submission offers a glimmer of hope to some residents, traders on Mercato Metropolitano told the News their position remained precarious.
Wishing to remain anonymous, two traders said communication from Mercato had been very limited.
According to Berkeley’s planning statement, it is in discussions with Mercato Metropolitano about keeping it on the site after the redevelopment.
Buildings C and D have been designed to accommodate Mercato but Berkeley has said the spaces could “be occupied by a number of potential alternative tenants” should an agreement not be reached.
Berkeley has a ‘business relocation strategy’ which involves consulting with the four businesses on-site – Mercato, Theatrical Education Services Ltd, Former Baptist Church and Truckpoint Vehicle Hire – about their requirements and the possibility of providing new premises.
But it is claimed Berkeley is only communicating with Mercato directly and not individual traders, meaning some vendors feel they have been left in the dark.
Asked how much communication they’d received from Mercato, two traders who wished to remain anonymous said they’d had almost nothing.
“They don’t even know themselves. They said [we can stay until] December at the earliest because they know for sure that’s when it [Mercato] will be open,” one said.
Southwark Liberal Democrat leader and Borough and Bankside Councillor Victor Chamberlain told the News: “If the current plans are approved hundreds of jobs and dozens of businesses are under threat.
“I’m deeply concerned that traders and the thousands of regular Mercato Metropolitano customers are being kept in the dark about what these plans mean for them.
“I have asked for an urgent meeting with Berkley Homes and Mercato to examine what we can do to protect jobs and this hugely valuable local space and to make sure all those affected know about it.
“I’ve also asked council bosses to make themselves aware of this issue and look at options to retain Mercato.”
Jerry Flynn of the local activist housing group the 35% campaign said there were lessons to be learned from the experiences of traders from the demolished Elephant and Castle shopping centre.
In that instance, some relocated successfully but Pricebusters, for example, claimed they didn’t get enough compensation to meet the cost of refitting and re-establishing its business, which it estimated to be over £1 million.
Berkeley declined to comment.
Mercato Metropolitano was approached for comment.