Public consultation and developer’s response

Conrad Phoenix has been working within the local Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks communities and talking to local people since 2005 when the first proposals for Site C were tabled.

Since then, and following extensive discussions with Southwark Council about their aspirations for both Sites C and E, proposals have changed considerably to take on board feedback from all consultation activity.

Sites C and E proposals were presented formally to the community and stakeholders in October 2008 following which applications were submitted to the Council in January 2009. The applications were then withdrawn by Conrad Phoenix in March 2009 to allow for further discussions with the Council.

Following further review and revising of the schemes, Conrad Phoenix is now progressing positively towards resubmitting both applications in summer 2009.

Key changes to the schemes made through the various phases of consultation include:

Site C

  • A reduction in height and density
  • More synergy through landscaping with neighbouring new developments
  • Provision of more housing for family groups rather than 1 or 2 beds
  • More apartments with ‘dual aspect’ – two sides looking outwards
  • Concern over inappropriate night time activity has led to some usage being restricted to restaurants and cafés
  • More lively active frontage along Surrey Quays with retail use – for improved safety.

Site E

  • PCT area to be replaced with community space*
  • Residential – the majority will have two or more bedrooms (with almost 14% as 3 beds and 54% as 2 beds)
  • Reduction in height of hotel on the corner of the development by two storeys
  • Reduction in commercial office space alongside Harmsworth Quays boundary to reduce the height and bulk of the buildings
  • Addition of a small retail until to provide newsagent facilities to the community
  • Reduction in size and mass overall to create more synergy with neighbouring new developments and the Mulberry business park
  • More fluidity of landscaping between this and other surrounding developments for greater synergy
  • Courtyard space and public square for communal use
  • Individual private green spaces
  • Appropriate parking provision as per the Council’s stated requirements.

*The PCT has deferred its investment decision and therefore the location of the polyclinic in the Rotherhithe area is uncertain.

boards

All planning documents will be available to view via Southwark Council’s website once the planning applications have been registered. Within this documentation, the Consultation Statement (section 5.0 ‘Responding to Issues Raised’) outlines how Conrad Phoenix and the professional team have responded to community feedback received.

All public consultation (and this website) is being managed by M&N Communications, community engagement consultants appointed by Conrad Phoenix in 2005 to assist them in working with the local community.

Further information on public consultation past, present or future can be obtained by calling Jo Sistern at M&N Communications on 020 7831 0534.