The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has given approval for the redevelopment of the former ITV studios on the South Bank at 60-72 Upper Ground, SE1.
In a letter to Lambeth Council’s planning committee Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for planning, regeneration and skills, referred the decision back to the local planning authority.
Approved plans to redevelop the site have been on hold since earlier this year, when then-levelling-up secretary Michael Gove issued an article 31 notice for the scheme and cast doubt on proposals to develop 1m sq ft office, retail and arts and culture space.
Owned by Mitsubishi Estate and co-developed by Co-Re, the project is set to involve bulldozing the studios in place of a 25-storey office building connected to two blocks of six and 14 storeys.
The new development will feature 90,000 sq ft of office space, as well as cultural venues, two public squares and restaurant and retail spaces.
Lambeth Council planners granted consent for updated proposals in March, despite describing the scheme as “controversial and extremely unpopular” in their own planning report.
Documents submitted to the Greater London Authority yesterday revealed that following the neighbourhood consultation process Lambeth Council received a total of 308 responses – 256 of which were in objection, four neutral and 46 in support.
Despite developers already having consent from local authorities for the build to commence, demolition has yet to start as authorities have been waiting for the mayor’s decision on whether to give the scheme the go-ahead.
The site was sold by ITV to Mitsubishi Estate in November 2019 with an existing planning permission to redevelop it.
Stephen Black, director at Co-Re, said: “Our proposals will transform a dormant, closed-off site on a popular part of the River Thames into an open and welcoming building that prioritises high-quality workspace and the provision of new arts, cultural and green public spaces. It will make a deserving addition to the South Bank.
“We’re very pleased that the GLA and Lambeth Council have both recommended for approval a building that will bring investment, over 4,000 new jobs, and new workspace to one of London’s most famous destinations.”
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