TOWER PLAN GREENLIT IN SOUTH LONDON DESPITE RESERVATIONS

A plan to redevelop a retail center at 520 Old Kent Road in South London into a development including a 48-story residential tower designed by London-based Brisac Gonzalez has been approved by the Southwark London Borough Council despite concerns of the impact it could have the surrounding historic environment, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat reports. The skyscraper will contain 1,113 apartments mixing for-sale, for-lease and affordable units. Also on the drawing boards are 5,000 m2 of office space, more than 2,000 m2 of retail space, restaurants, a cinema and a public square and park. Historic England and Southwark's design-review council were among those concerned about the tower's impact on the views, but the need for housing won out.