Labour Councillor Alice Macdonald has said she will oppose plans to build a 150-bedroom student block on 31 Amelia Street, Walworth.
She made the announcement at a Walworth hustings event at St Peter’s Church, Liverpool Grove on Wednesday 21 April.
Walworth Society member Diana Cochrane had asked why the development was being considered given it would tower over the Pullens Gardens and could be used for social housing.
Speaking in her role as ward councillor, Alice Macdonald, who is standing again for re-election in Newington ward, responded saying she would “support the campaign to oppose the student development” but added that, because it is not council land, nothing could be “ruled out”.
In March, the News reported that Walworth Society wanted the developer to re-think their plans and “put the requirement for social housing first”.
Jeremy Leach from The Walworth Society has now said: “We are really pleased that local councillors oppose this greedy development.
“Southwark Council policy has made it clear that this part of Walworth needs social housing and not yet more student accommodation.
“What is planned will harm the Pullens Estate Conservation Area and Pullens Gardens.
“The building is bulky and overbearing and little thought has been given to its design.
“It fills the site completely and does nothing to improve the local area – there is no greenery on the street and the design for the Low Line is very poor.
The development, proposed by Thorstone Land & Property Ltd, would be built on the site of what is currently a Reed partnership office.
The plans are currently in the pre-application phase in which the developer consults with the council before lodging an official planning application.
The proposal comes amidst an affordable housing crisis in the borough, with Southwark Council has vowed to deliver 40,000 homes by 2036.
Southwark council and Thorstone Land & Property Ltd have been approached for comment.