Southernwood Retail Park, Southwark

Planning consent has been granted for redevelopment of the Southernwood Retail Park in Southwark.  The mixed-use scheme will deliver 724 residential units, including 219 affordable homes, and will feature a 48-storey tower.  More than 2,500 square metres of shops, cafes and restaurants, a 195-room hotel, a three-screen cinema and public spaces are also proposed.  The development will provide much-needed new homes and kick-start the regeneration of the northern section of the Old Kent Road.

Motion helped secure unanimous approval with preparation of the transport assessment which included analysis of on-street parking and close liaison with Transport for London (TfL) to agree car and cycle parking provision.  The company’s advice covered delivery and servicing, refuse strategy, travel planning and construction traffic management.  Design support for vehicle and pedestrian access was also provided.

One of the key challenges was developing a construction strategy which took account of the emerging Bakerloo Line extension works on Humphrey Road, while minimising the impact of construction traffic in nearby streets.  We provided detailed input on the future travel patterns for the proposed hotel, and the likely impact on buses before the Bakerloo Line extension becomes operational.

Careful balance facilitated

The 2.5-acre scheme will be developed over two phases around the construction of the Bakerloo Line extension.  The Motion team collaborated with the project architects Pilbrow and Partners to deliver a transport strategy to serve the site in two phases, allowing part of the existing retail park to be retained for several years.  The design included an off-street servicing bay at ground level and basement areas for car and cycle parking, electric vehicle charging and hotel and residential deliveries.

A delivery and servicing plan for the full development project was required, as well as for each interim stage.  Account needed to be taken of the proposed basement, either partially built or operational, as well as the construction of the second basement area.

 “This was a complicated project within a constrained site, requiring a careful balance between the local authorities and TfL.  Motion worked extremely hard to facilitate meeting everyone’s requirements.” 

Emma Prichard-Selby, Founding Director at development manager The Vesta Group Ltd