Early stage plans for purpose-built student housing at former New Cross delivery office

Northhold Group is in pre-application discussions with Lewisham council and selected community groups, in preparation for submitting a planning application to develop the site.

The former delivery office went up for auction earlier this year, flagging its redevelopment potential, but was then withdrawn.

Now the property investment firm want to redevelop the site themselves to provide what they describe as "much needed" student accommodation.

They are planning to construct a basement and four-storey building, providing Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) of 137 student bedrooms.

Plans include "activation of the site frontage" onto New Cross Road, and a landscaped courtyard area at the centre of the site.

The location falls within the Hatcham conservation area, with Telegraph Hill conservation area to its south.

The site is a four minute walk to New Cross Gate station, which has Windrush Overground and Southern rail connections.

The station is also a proposed stop for the Bakerloo Line extension, which is paused awaiting funding.  

Pre-application discussions help applicants get feedback from the council to amend their plans before they formally submit a planning application, making it more likely it will be approved.

PBSA has become property developers' favoured option across north Lewisham, and there have been cases of approved planning applications for housing being withdrawn and replaced with plans for student accommodation.

Housing campaigners have described PBSA spreading "like a pandemic".

They have argued that there is already overprovision of student accommodation in the area, and that the switch to PBSA is driven by investment potential, not demand.

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