WW F1 Student Development Company’s purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development could be back on the slate.
In November, Tower Hamlets Council narrowly rejected plans for a 46-storey PBSA development with 912 beds. Four councillors voted against the advice of the area’s own planning team and three voted for the scheme.
However, the Deputy Mayor of London, Jules Pipe has argued that the scheme, at 7 Brannan Street in Canary Wharf, could be needed to meet the demand for student housing in the capital.
“The proposals would contribute towards the delivery of housing, making a positive contribution towards London housing targets.
“As such, the non-delivery of 912 student bed spaces is considered to impact upon the implementation of the London Plan.”
Letter to Council, Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor of London
The London Plan is Sadiq Khan’s blueprint for future development in the capital, which sets out how much housing and infrastructure needs to be built to meet the needs of the city’s population.
Under the PBSA proposals, put forward by WW F1 Student Development Company Limited, some 320 of the 912 bedrooms (around 35%) would be classed as affordable accommodation.
The bedrooms would range in size significantly, from cluster rooms of 13 sqm through to more spacious studios of 28 sqm.
The plans show a rooftop garden on the top floor, and the tower would be a sustainable building with a commitment to the health and wellbeing of the students and the environment.
Now, a public hearing will now be held at City Hall, where Jules will decide whether to grant planning permission for the project, or allow the council’s refusal to stand. A date has not yet been set for that hearing.
