Plans have been approved to build a 31-storey student tower on top of a Victorian warehouse in Deptford. The tower will provide 502 rooms for students as well as offices and was given the green light by the Lewisham Planning Committee. The development will retain two facades of the existing four-storey Scott House warehouse, with the tower being constructed on top of it. Unfortunately, the rest of Scott House, which currently houses 19 families, will be demolished.
Phoebe Juggins from Your Tribe, the student accommodation developer, stated that the tower is necessary to address the increasing demand for university housing in the area. She emphasized that there is a shortage of purpose-built student rooms in London, with around four students competing for each one. Despite objections claiming an over-concentration of student housing in Deptford, Juggins highlighted the need for more accommodation based on the current demand.
On the other hand, critics argued against the development, pointing out that there are already plans for over 4,700 purpose-built student accommodation rooms within a mile of the site, exceeding London’s yearly target. Councillor Rudi Schmidt expressed concerns about the impact of the new tower on the Evelyn ward, where competition in the private rented sector could increase.
The current proposal differs from a previous plan approved in 2021 for a 27-storey block with 137 flats. Residents, including Amber from Scott House, criticized the lack of consideration for existing tenants in the new development. However, David Robinson, the council’s major and strategic project manager, defended the decision, stating that a mix of developments is needed in Deptford to meet the annual housing delivery target.
Comparisons were drawn to a recent refusal of similar plans in Birmingham for a 42-storey skyscraper on a Grade-II listed Georgian hospital. The council’s decision to approve the student tower in Deptford was based on the necessity to meet housing targets, despite concerns about over-concentration of student accommodation. The approved development aims to address the growing demand for student housing in the area while balancing the needs of existing residents and the overall community.
