The Planning Committee (Major Applications) B was scheduled to discuss the release of funds from Section 106 agreements to support affordable housing delivery and consider three major development management applications. The meeting was also set to include the election of a Vice-Chair for the planning committees.

Release of £3,271,619.64 from S106 Agreements for Affordable Housing

The committee was scheduled to consider the release of over £3.2 million from Section 106 agreements to support the delivery of affordable housing in the borough. These funds, received from legal agreements with developers, are intended to contribute to the council's New Homes Programme, which aims to build 11,000 new council homes by 2043. The report pack detailed how these S106 receipts, combined with other funding streams, help to maximise the delivery of new council homes and reduce borrowing requirements for schemes. The committee was asked to agree to the release of these funds to the New Homes Programme and authorise the Strategic Director of Resources to apply them to individual projects.

Development Management Applications

The committee was scheduled to consider three significant planning applications:

25/AP/2564 - 2-10 & 14-22 Ossory Road, London, SE15

This application proposed the demolition of the existing building at 2-10 Ossory Road and the construction of two buildings. These buildings were intended to provide commercial floorspace (Use Class E) and purpose-built student accommodation (Sui Generis), along with associated access, highways works, amenity space, and cycle parking. The proposal included a 13-storey building at 2-10 Ossory Road and a 12-storey building at 14-22 Ossory Road, providing 465 student bedspaces and 2,466 sqm of commercial floorspace. This application was linked to a separate application for the redevelopment of Credon House, Verney Road, for social rented homes. The report pack indicated that the principle of delivering purpose-built student housing on this site was considered acceptable as it would also deliver the equivalent of 37.8% affordable housing off-site.

25/AP/2566 - Credon House, Verney Road, London, SE16 3BA

This application concerned the redevelopment of Credon House, involving the demolition of the existing three-storey building and the construction of a 14-storey building. This new building was planned to provide 26 affordable social rented homes, comprising 23 four-bedroom, five-person properties and three two-bedroom, four-person wheelchair accessible homes. The report highlighted that this development was linked to the Ossory Road applications and would provide the off-site affordable housing element for those developments. The proposals were noted to meet or exceed quality standards and provide a high proportion of family homes.

25/AP/3515 - 22-24 Southwark Bridge Road, SE1 9HB

This application proposed the partial demolition of 22 and 24 Southwark Bridge Road and the redevelopment of the site for hotel use (Class C1). It also included flexible cultural uses (Sui Generis) at ground floor level, along with associated landscaping, access, servicing, plant, and equipment. The proposal was for an 18-storey building, with a maximum height of 58.9m AOD, to accommodate a 530-bed hotel and a 408 sqm flexible cultural use space. The report indicated that sufficient marketing evidence had been submitted to demonstrate that the site was no longer viable for office redevelopment. The proposed hotel use was considered acceptable, meeting a growing demand for visitor accommodation and creating employment opportunities. The flexible cultural use was intended to add to the area's cultural offer. The scale and massing of the building were considered acceptable, reflecting the context of the surroundings and emerging character of the wider area, while respecting nearby heritage assets. The detailed design was described as exemplary.

The meeting was also scheduled to address apologies for absence, confirmation of voting members, notification of urgent business, and the disclosure of interests. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 December 2025 were to be approved, and the election of the Vice-Chair of the Planning Committees (Major Applications) A and B was also on the agenda. The committee was also informed about the procedure for excluding the press and public if exempt information was to be discussed.