We have successfully gained planning approval from Southwark Council to build 30 affordable homes on top of and connecting existing residential buildings Antony House & Roderick House in Bermondsey.
The new homes at Antony and Roderick will be built in partnership with Lambeth and Southwark Housing Association (LSHA) and with the assistance of HTA Design LLP (HTA).
All the homes will be affordable, with 24 offered as London Affordable Rent, and the remaining six offered for Southwark Council’s Social Rent. The development will include ‘bookends’ at each end of the existing buildings, a new central core connecting the buildings, and a double-storey rooftop extension. A bespoke steel structure has been developed to carry the weight of the new homes, enabling the existing buildings to carry the extra loading of the new homes.
The airspace and infill at Antony and Roderick will be a mixture of one and two-bedroom apartments, benefiting from a contemporary design with open-plan kitchens and living areas, floor-to-ceiling windows, and outdoor amenity space. The homes will be highly insulated, water, and energy-efficient, to reduce energy bills for all residents. The works will also help to address issues of overcrowding in the existing buildings by providing flexibility for existing over and under occupation.
The units will be built off-site using modular methods, ensuring high-quality homes while doubling the speed of construction. This approach means less disruption to existing residents who will also benefit from the introduction of a lift to the buildings, a communal entrance, a landscaped forecourt, extra lighting, cycle storage, and additional storage for refuse and recycling.
With the buildings’ roofs already due for major rework, Antony and Roderick will save LSHA around £400,000 in replacement costs over the next three years. In addition, the creation of new homes has the potential to generate a balance sheet leverage of approximately £4m, which could be used to fund more new homes.
The announcement of our planning approval builds on our partnerships with Homes England and the Greater London Authority, which has secured us £19 million of funding to further roll-out developments across the capital.
Arshad Bhatti, CEO at Apex Airspace, said:
“Having worked closely with Lambeth and Southwark Housing Association and HTA, we are thrilled that Southwark Council has granted planning permission for Antony and Roderick; we are thankful for their continued cooperation. Our collaboration with LSHA demonstrates our ability to unlock a previously unknown supply of affordable housing for the wider community in Bermondsey through this redevelopment and be able to deliver policy-compliant rented accommodation in inner London.
“Apex has adopted a holistic approach whereby we are maximising the use of existing assets and infrastructures. This is having a revolutionary effect on the supply of good quality affordable homes in London, without encroaching on London’s greenbelt. Our pioneering model is a blueprint for other councils and housing associations to follow suit and adopt innovative solutions to address the chronic shortage of homes in the capital.”
Mark Jackson, Chief Executive at LHSA, said:
“If we’re going to build more homes for our tenants, we need to think innovatively and efficiently, which is exactly what Apex is offering. London desperately needs more high-quality and affordable homes and the company’s construction methods will help us deliver new homes far quicker than traditionally due to off-site modular construction.
“As a housing association we need to ensure we are utilising our existing stock in the capital, which is why this is such a fantastic solution for us. We have been impressed by Apex’s model and feel this is a tangible solution for fellow housing associations to consider.”