Ludgate House, Tower London, Southwark Skyscraper, Architecture, UK Building News

Ludgate & Sampson Houses

Southwark Skyscrapers Proposal, South London property design by PLP Architecture

9 Oct 2013

Ludgate House and Sampson House

Ludgate House and Sampson House News

Architect: PLP Architecture

PLANS FOR 1.4 MILLION SQ FT LONDON SOUTH BANK REGENERATION SCHEME APPROVED

Residential, office and retail development to deliver 490 new homes and 3,700 jobs in a new riverside urban quarter

£75 million contribution to affordable housing units and other civic improvements

9 October 2013 – Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group announces that the Southwark Council’s Strategic Planning Committee last night approved Carlyle’s planning application to replace the Sampson House data-centre and Ludgate House office building with a major 1.4 million sq ft residential and office regeneration project on the south bank of the River Thames across from the City of London.

Ludgate House and Sampson House – View from the Tate Modern:

picture from architects

The regeneration project will create a destination neighbourhood with around 490 new homes, as well as 3,700 jobs which represents a c.1,450 increase in new full time or equivalent jobs compared to what the current buildings provide. The development will comprise 1.4 million sq ft of total floor space, including 940,000 sq ft of residential, 450,000 sq ft of new offices, 35,000 sq ft of new public open spaces, 25,000 sq ft of retail and 18,500 sq ft of space for cultural use.

In addition, the London Borough of Southwark, the Greater London Authority and Transport for London will benefit from a c.£75 million Section 106 investment as a result of the development. This includes a c.£65 million affordable housing contribution, equivalent to the policy requirement for 35% of affordable homes.

In agreement with Southwark Council this contribution will be made through the Council’s Affordable Housing Fund, which has been established to deliver over 1,000 new affordable homes across the borough by 2020, and will enable the delivery of 260 new affordable homes in Southwark, bringing the total number of new homes provided by the scheme to 750.

The balance of the Section 106 contribution will be used to finance the development of open public spaces, improvements to sports and leisure provision, as well as education, transport, health, community facilities and employment training.

Ludgate House and Sampson House – view from Blackfriars Bridge:

picture from architects

The PLP Architecture-designed project will establish an open and accessible urban quarter on the bank of the River Thames across from the City of London. It will comprise nine new buildings, the tallest of which will be a 48-story residential tower, which together with the adjacent ‘One Blackfriars’ development*, will form a new physical ‘gateway’ and London landmark on the south side of Blackfriars Bridge, connecting the City and Southwark. Three of the new buildings will be on the western Ludgate House side of the site, with the remaining six constructed on the eastern Sampson House location.

Residential buildings will be positioned towards the north end of the site, allowing homeowners to capitalise on the riverside location and spectacular views of London, whilst office buildings will be located on the southern edge. The offices will offer space arranged over flexible floorplates from 2,500 sq ft – 13,500 sq ft in size, to suit a range of business from multi-national organisations to local firms. All buildings will be built to high levels of sustainability and energy efficiency.

Once complete the development will deliver large areas of new open space including a 4,300 sq ft children’s square, and a new 16,250 sq ft ‘public square’ bordered by retail, leisure and cultural space in the lower floors of the new buildings. In addition, the footpath and accessibility along the River Thames will be dramatically improved and parts of the Upper Ground thoroughfare will be re-opened for the first time in 150 years.

The project will be delivered in multiple phases following the lease expiries of the current tenants at Ludgate House in Q1 2015, and Sampson House in Q2 2018, and it is anticipated that works will be completed between mid-2020 and early 2023.

Commenting on the scheme, Mark Harris, Managing Director at The Carlyle Group, said: “Our vision of an exciting new urban quarter on this prime Thames-side location has taken a significant step towards realisation with the council’s decision to provide planning consent for our project. The site, which is right on the river, is currently extremely under-utilised from a physical, social, employment as well as cultural perspective and the support we have received from the local community and Southwark Council throughout this process, and last night, endorses our belief in the need for change.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to create a vibrant new destination area, with homes, retail and leisure facilities which brings thousands of new jobs to the area, while at the same time allowing us to make a significant contribution to Southwark’s wider housing requirements.”

Councillor Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council said: “This is an amazingly exciting project which will bring new homes, new jobs and new opportunities for Southwark and its’ residents – everyone in our borough can benefit from developments like this. It is further proof that Southwark is the new vital heart of London and is not afraid to play its part in leading the whole city out of recession.”

*‘One Blackfriars’ is not part of The Carlyle Group’s approved scheme

About The Carlyle Group

The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $180 billion of assets under management across 118 funds and 81 fund of funds vehicles as of June 30, 2013. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions.

Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Global Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,400 people in 34 offices across six continents.

Ludgate & Sampson Houses information from PLP Architecture

PLP Architecture

Location: Sampson House, London, England, UK