Transformation of St Thomas Street
Approved Bermondsey Yard and Snowsfields Scheme
Over the last 5 years, there has been a great deal of uncertainty over the future of St Thomas Street. It is a huge development site for such a central location in London, lodged between the beautifully upgraded mainline station, western Europe’s tallest building, and the historic intimacy of Bermondsey Street and Snowsfields.
Now, all four development sites have received planning permission and the first of the towers has suddenly burst from the ground – a sign of things to come.
Team London Bridge has been actively engaged in this process, having set out an ambition for the St Thomas Street ‘Boulevard’ in the London Bridge Plan back in 2015. We have focused on themes prioritised through our work, like public realm, greening, air quality, culture, active frontage, placemarks, sustainability and community benefit. Hopefully we have had a hand in improving these aspects of the schemes.
So, a few updates below on what we can expect to see in the future:
Last week, the Southwark planning committee approved the Bermondsey Yard and Snowsfields scheme by Aviva/Sellar, perhaps the most locally contentious scheme given its location transitioning from Bermondsey Street and the repurposing of the old leather warehouse. Now begins the process of agreeing all the planning conditions, such as integrating the public realm with neighbouring developments.
Vinegar Yard, owned by CIT, was referred to the GLA and given the green light last year. The ambition is to develop a partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’s Trust as part of the growth of the health innovation cluster known as SC1. Details are being ironed out with the GLA for this 20-storey building, including public realm, access through the site and servicing. However, it’s likely there will be at least one summer of wining and dining at Vinegar Yard before the builders move in.
60 St Thomas Street, by Edge/Simten, is a 27 storey building on the site of the former Home Office. The site has now been demolished, though significant works are imminent which will cause noise and vibrations. The expected completion date is summer 2026.
Chapter Living, formerly Capital House, is being developed by Greystar into a 39-story student accommodation tower, with a public ground floor. Completion is due in autumn 2025.
Southwark Council (supported by ward councillors, residents and Team London Bridge) has brought together the four developers to take part in a community forum that will meet regularly during the construction period. This should simplify how the community receives information about the significant construction programme, which has already been felt locally. It should also be a forum for feeding in ideas from the community, including businesses, and ensuring the developers realise benefits of working collaboratively.
Finally, a new fifth development partnership introduced themselves at the community forum, looking to develop a site just around the corner at Snowsfields Quarter (the Miller pub and NCP carpark). This is a partnership between Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation, Oxford Properties and Reef Group. They have just started a listening exercise, do fill in this short survey to give your ideas - https://kandaconsulting.typeform.com/to/PW4SFknz
Getting involved
The minutes from the first meeting in April are here and you can view the presentation here. If you would like to receive updates about the construction phase, contact rachel.hall@macegroup.com, and to be invited to future forum meetings email local councillor Emily.hickson@southwark.gov.uk.
To see any of the responses that we at TLB have made on behalf of the business district, they are all here www.teamlondonbridge.co.uk/documents
And of course, do get in touch with me, jack@teamlondonbridge.co.uk if you have any thoughts to share or questions about this new part of London Bridge