A former crown court in London is to be demolished and replaced with student accommodation and social housing after the plans were approved by councillors on Tuesday night (December 9).
The applicant, iQ Student Accommodation, had submitted plans to redevelop Blackfriars Crown Court and build accommodation for 600 students as well as 71 new homes which will be entirely social rent.
During last night’s meeting, Southwark Council’s Planning Committee approved of the proposals and voted to grant planning permission.
The building on Pocock Street was originally constructed in the post-war period for use as a printworks HM Stationary Office. It was later refurbished to become Blackfriars Crown Court until it closed in December 2019.
Since then the building has stood vacant, thought it has reportedly been used as a location to film court scenes for Netflix’s Top Boy.
During last night’s meeting, an iQ representative told the Committee: “About 12 months ago in 2024, we acquired this site with a clear ambition to deliver high-quality and well managed student housing, and much needed affordable housing in the heart of Southwark; supporting both the borough’s high educational institutions and also the wider community alike.
“Our residential-led plans respond to Southwark’s urgent housing needs. They are deliverable and with your permission we’re ready to get going on site and begin construction work immediately.”
Under the proposals, the student accommodation is set to be contained in one block that would be part six and part nine storeys tall.
The student accommodation would have 190 studios, 100 ‘premium studios’, 60 accessible studios and 40 shared ‘cluster’ flats for groups of five and seven people.
Students would also have access to communal spaces including a lounge, flexible study rooms, a cinema and karaoke room, a games room, a gym, private dining rooms and laundry facilities.
At its tallest, the housing block would be six storeys and would be 100per cent social rented – consisting of 23 one-beds, 34 two-beds, 6 three-beds and 8 four-beds.
A publicly accessible café unit as well as flexible commercial floorspace is also set to be built on site.
iQ plans to build 376 long-stay cycle parking spaces, which includes a private hire scheme offering 14 bicycles.
During the public consultation stage, the plans received two objections from the public. The objections raised concerns over a lack of affordable housing, the concentration of student housing in the area, as well as the impacts on privacy, daylight and sunlight.
A planning officer responded to the objections in a council report, and said: “The inclusion of student housing within the proposed development has been assessed as part of the overall land use strategy and is considered appropriate for the area.
“The commercial element comprises a café and an additional flexible-use space designated under Class E. This flexibility allows the space to respond to evolving local needs and ensures activation of the ground floor along the newly proposed Link Street.”
They also said the 40per cent affordable housing offer was “very good”.
The plans were ultimately approved by the Committee.
