The London Borough of Bromley agreed the plan, which will see a 24 storey tower built containing build to rent homes for local people.

It is the first time that the John Lewis Partnership department store company has gone into residential housing development, as it seeks to diversify away from its traditional shops and retail business.

Plans also feature new public green spaces, a cafe and amenity spaces for local community groups.

The site sits next to Bromley South Rail Station in the town centre and at the intersection of major roads.

Investment firm abrdn is working with John Lewis in a £500m joint venture to deliver around 1,000 new homes across three local communities, including the Bromley project.

James Dunne, head of operational real estate at investor abrdn, said: “Well designed and professionally managed rental homes are a vital component in helping to solve the UK’s housing needs.

“Build-to-rent on brownfield sites such as this can also act as an anchor for town centre regeneration and wider community investment. We look forward to continuing working closely with JLP to move forward with our strategy.”

The move swells Unite Students’ London development pipeline which now totals 3,200 beds for delivery over the next five years at a cost of over £800m.

Unite said it would start demolition shortly to advance the latest Borough High Street scheme in Southwark, known as King’s Place.

Thye site was formerly owned by Southwark Homes which brought in Sellar as development manager a year ago to advance a student accommodation project replacing earlier plans for a hotel and flats at the Harper Road and Borough High Street site.

Architect Morris and Co has designed the replacement scheme, which will be spread over an H-shaped footprint building rising from 5 to 11 storeys.

The project will include 308 studio flats and 136 en-suite rooms in cluster flats for students, eight key worker residential apartments and a further 18,000 sq ft of workspace accommodation.

Building will rise to 11 storeys

Under the fast-track development plan the project will be ready for occupation in the 2027/28 academic year.

Tom Brewerton, Group Development Director at Unite Students, said: “We are delighted with the acquisition of Kings Place; a high-quality development in a central London location close to a range of London’s leading universities and Borough Underground Station.

“Unite Students is leading the purpose-built student accommodation sector and this new acquisition is an exciting development. The site benefits from full planning permission so allows us to start demolition soon.”

The project will be located on a one-acre site fronting Newington Causeway and Borough High Street.

Building work now is expected to begin at the end of this year to welcome the first students at the start of the academic year 2027/28.

Regal’s in-house construction arm Regal Construction will manage the  programme to construct two buildings rising to 20 and 22 storeys on railway land parallel to Wembley High Road.

The Wembley Greenaway student scheme is being backed by Cheyne Capital and has been designed by architect JTP, with Wallace Whittle providing M&E design.

The two buildings will be linked by a single storey podium

The project will be targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and an EPC rating of A and will seek to be among the first purpose-built student accommodation projects in the UK to be WELL Platinum Certified.

Hamish Gordon of Cheyne Real Estate said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Regal again for one of the largest PBSA developments in London.

“The development will provide an elevated living experience to students within a short distance of London’s leading universities.”

Marc Eden of Regal added: “We pride ourselves on our long-term partnerships, and to be working with Cheyne on our sixth collaboration is a fantastic milestone.”

Its landmark New Belvedere scheme has been designed by architect PRP and will create a new community in the London Borough of Bexley.

The New Belvedere project will feature a variety of housing types across a cluster of around 20 blocks ranging from 2-8 storeys.

The scheme includes a mix of affordable and family-sized homes, with private amenities for each residence and secure communal gardens.

New Belvedere will kick start the regeneration of an under-utilised industrial site to deliver new homes and a new community hub for Bexley

Additionally, the development will deliver over one hectare of new green open space, a public square with over 500 sq m for commercial or community use, and upgraded pedestrian links to Belvedere Station and throughout the neighbourhood.

Laurence Quail, managing director at Aitch Group said: “We are delighted to have secured outline planning consent for the New Belvedere project, which underscores our commitment to delivering transformative developments that resonate with the needs and aspirations of local communities.

“This project represents a significant opportunity to revitalise the area, providing much-needed housing, community facilities, and economic stimulus.”

The extra costs include £130m for further work to “developments previously identified as potentially requiring remediation work, which have been previously disclosed. ”

Barratt conducted a review of completed reinforced concrete frame buildings after design defects were discovered at its Citiscape project in Croydon, south London.

It said the work “relates to the remediation of two developments in London.”

A further £62m was also set aside for extra fire safety work in relation to the Government’s Building Safety Fund.

The latest provisions were revealed in a trading update for the year ended 30 June 2024.

Barratt is currently waiting approval from the CMA for its merger with Redrow which has cost £23m to organise.

Total housing completions during the year dipped to 14,004 from 17,206.

Build cost inflation was running at 5% during the year but Barratt expects that to drop with costs flat this year.

David Thomas, Chief Executive, said: “During another year of economic and political uncertainty, we have delivered a strong operational performance, reflecting the exceptional work of our employees, subcontractors and suppliers, and their commitment to delivering high quality homes that people want to live in.

“Whilst we continue to navigate a challenging macroeconomic backdrop, we are delivering industry leading build quality, sustainability and customer service. Combined with the strength of our balance sheet, this has ensured we remain resilient and responsive through the cycle.

“Looking ahead, we are pleased that the proposed combination with Redrow was strongly supported by both sets of shareholders in the Spring and, subject to the CMA’s approval, we look forward to bringing together two businesses to create an exceptional UK housebuilder ensuring we are well-positioned for the future.”

The Bromley by Bow Gasworks site in east London comprises seven disused Grade II listed gasholders.

Under plans drawn up by architect RSHP, these will be restored to incorporate many of the new homes within the cast iron structures.

The remaining homes will be built in higher rise surrounding cylindrical buildings echoing the gas holder homes.

A Section 106 legal agreement has to be finalised with London’s Newham Council, before work can begin on site in 2025.

St William’s ambitious scheme will involve a hefty upfront investment with the cost of temporary disassembly and restoration of the seven listed gasholders put at £80m alone.

This is before largely unquantifiable decontamination, enabling and ground remediation costs on the 9 hectare site.

Structural steel engineering specialists Craddys and Shepley have been closely involved in drawing up plans to reuse the cast iron gas holder structures, built between 1870 and 1882 for a cost of £300,000.

Both firms were previously involved in the project to dismantle, refurbish and re-erect the Gasholder No.8 guide frame at Kings Cross as well as the refurbishment and re-erection of the Kings Cross Triplets Gasholders.

St William submitted a hybrid planning application for the site, which also include the remains of two gas holders destroyed by the Luftwaffe in the second World War.

These will turned into a central circular lake and a community space covered with one of the gas holder iron frames.