Planning permission for 187 homes and a nursery on the site of a collection of soon-to-be defunct Maudsley buildings has been approved.
The development at De Crespigny Park was given the green light by Southwark Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, October 5.
It will see old and outdated buildings currently used by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS) demolished to make way for a car-free housing development of one, two and three-bed flats with communal gardens.
Half the homes (79) will be ‘affordable’, of which seventy per cent will be at social rent with the rest available through shared ownership. The remainder are for private sale.
A large number of objections were received during a public consultation. A total of 105 representations were made including objections from The Camberwell Society and Grove Lane Residents Association.
In total there were three letters of support but 100 objections, with many arguing that more hospital bed space and social rent housing should have been priorities for any development.
There are also concerns the large number of homes will lead to further overcrowding in the area and at Denmark Hill station, and negatively impact the character of the conservation area it sits within.
The planning officers’ report discussed at the meeting argued: “The design would be of a high quality making a positive contribution to the townscape.
“Whilst there would be some harm to the setting of the nearby heritage assets, this is considered to be less than substantial harm which would be outweighed by the wider benefits of the proposal.”
The trust intends to put funds generated from the development back into its mental health services.
CAHMS will be relocating from the site, which includes Mapother House, Michael Rutter Centre and Professorial Buildings, to the new £65 million Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People, now under construction in Denmark Hill and expected to open in 2023.
David Bradley, chief executive of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Last [week’s] decision helps to ensure we can provide modern facilities fit for the highest standards of 21st century mental health care.
“We also take our responsibility as an anchor institution very seriously and the 50 per cent affordable housing at the heart of these plans will be a significant boost for families and individuals in need of high-quality homes in Southwark.”