The Southwark Council cabinet met on 14 October 2025, and agreed to dispose of land for a new care home, adopt a climate and environment supplementary planning document, consult on changes to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for student housing, authorise the letting of underground garage space, and award a contract for integrated sexual and reproductive health services.

Key discussion points:

• Age-Friendly Borough Initiative: The cabinet endorsed the Age-Friendly Southwark initiative, which aims to make the borough a place where older residents are respected, connected, and able to lead healthy, active lives. The initiative includes:

  • Establishing a cross-council officer working group to coordinate internal delivery of the initiative and align departmental activity.
  • Maintaining the Older Persons Age-Friendly Forum as an advisory group.
  • Raising the profile of the programme to establish age-friendly approaches as a corporate priority.
  • Allocating a £50,000 budget for a communication and engagement campaign, including developing an age-friendly identity.
  • Using the age-friendly budget to support engagement activities and events.
  • Allocating project management resource from the council's Change Team.

  Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Equalities, Democracy and Finance, declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item, as she is a trustee of Rotherhithe Consolidated Charities, which were consulted on this item.

• Asylum Road Care Home Disposal: The cabinet approved the disposal of land at 128-148 Asylum Road and 133-137 Queens Road to Andover Care Ltd for the development of a new care home. The agreement includes:

  • A long lease to Andover Care Ltd, who will build and operate the care home.
  • An agreement for lease (AfL) and subsequent 999-year lease with Andover.
  • Delegated authority to the Director of Planning and Growth to finalise the terms of the AfL and lease grant.
  • Delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Children's Adults' Services to finalise the terms of the supplementary agreement for the care service for an initial 10-year period.

  The cabinet also:

  • Noted that further feedback from the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Commission meeting, scheduled for Thursday 16 October 2025, would be taken into account during the lease negotiation stage with Andover.
  • Noted that Planning and Growth would explore options for appointing the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) at the University of Stirling, as sector specialists, to comment on the proposed design, at the appropriate time.
  • Noted that the Andover Nursing Home has now been rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (4 September 2025).

• Adoption of Climate and Environment Supplementary Planning Document (SPD): The cabinet agreed to adopt the Climate and Environment SPD, which provides guidance on applying relevant policies of the Southwark Plan 2022 and conforming to national and local legislature and policies. The SPD is a material consideration in determining planning applications.

• Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Update - Student Housing: The cabinet approved the commencement of public consultation on a proposed change to the CIL rate for direct-let Purpose-Built Student Housing (PBSH). The recommendations included:

  • A minimum thirteen-week public consultation on the proposed change.
  • A minimum four-week consultation if material modifications are required following the initial consultation.
  • Submission of the revised CIL Charging Schedule for Examination if no material modifications are required.

  The proposed change to the CIL Charging Schedule is not a full review of other development typologies in the CIL Charging Schedule.

• Wyndham Road, Camberwell, London, SE5 0XD, Letting of Underground Former Garage Space: The cabinet authorised the Strategic Director of Resources to enter into the letting of former garages at Wyndham Road, Camberwell, London, SE5 0XD to Southwark Smart Space Ltd for a lease, for self-storage purposes. The cabinet:

  • Noted the circumstances leading to the proposed letting and due diligence being undertaken.
  • Noted the financial arrangements of the letting and the conditions of the lease in respect of capital works.
  • Delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Resources to complete the letting and agree detailed transactional terms.

• Gateway 2 Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Contract Award: The cabinet approved the contract award for the delivery of an integrated sexual and reproductive health service to Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust for three years from 7 November 2025. The cabinet:

  • Approved the contract award at an estimated annual contract value of £4.1m and an estimated whole life contract value of £12.3m.
  • Approved the change to the approved GW1 procurement strategy report, reduction in the duration of the contract, budget and that this will be a contract directly between Southwark Council and Guy's and St. Thomas' Foundation Trust.

  The new model will operate across one main Southwark-based site at Burrell Street instead of the current two, but will offer specific targeted satellite services for Southwark residents to mitigate the impact of these changes.