New plans to turn ex-student accommodation in South London into temporary homes have been unveiled, after previous proposals were rejected. Developer AKA Capability LLP has bought Mount Clare campus, previously used by the University of Roehampton, and wants to use the site for temporary housing while drawing up more permanent proposals.
The developer has resubmitted plans to Wandsworth Council to convert the empty campus into hostel accommodation, after its previous application was refused in September over concerns it would result in an 'overconcentration' of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO). The site includes 18th-century Grade I listed Mount Clare House, 20th-century block Picasso House and 15 blocks of student accommodation.
The plans would see Picasso House and the student accommodation blocks converted into 274 rooms for homeless families. A total of 11,183 households were on the council's housing waiting list as of March this year.
Most of the rooms would have ensuites and kitchenettes, while clusters in Picasso House would have shared kitchens and bathrooms. The plans would not involve any physical works to Mount Clare House.
The council rejected proposals to convert the site into temporary homes in September last year, after ruling the developer had not provided enough evidence to justify losing the existing student accommodation. The authority also said the development would result in an 'overconcentration of HMOs and other single-person accommodation at a local level, which would not have access to good levels of public transport'.
But documents submitted with the latest application said the site already has permission to be used as a hostel, as separate proposals to allow this were approved in 1957. They said that although the developer does not need planning permission for the scheme, it wants to win this so it can 'proceed as soon as possible with plans to get the buildings back into meaningful full-time use, to provide security and to ensure that the buildings, particularly the listed buildings, do not fall into further disrepair'.
The documents said the scheme would allow the site 'to be more actively managed, kept secure, and to avoid further degradation until a more permanent and appropriate uses can be found'. They added: "The scheme aims to improve the quality of the existing buildings, which are largely uninhabitable and have fallen into a state of disrepair. The scheme will provide hostel accommodation for the borough of Wandsworth, providing much-needed accommodation."
The council will decide on the latest plans in due course.
Are you experiencing housing issues in London? Email charlotte.lillywhite@reachplc.com
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