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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.

Designed by Howells alongside O’Donnell+Tuomey and LDA Design, the family of four blocks of flats will rise to 27 storeys.

Set within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the plans also include commercial space at ground level, as well as over 4,000 sq m of public open space that will prioritise biodiversity and play.

Construction is anticipated to start in Spring 2026, with completion expected in late 2029 with 35% of the homes rated affordable.

At the most northern part of the site, a marker building known as the ‘Prow’ (pictured above) has been designed by O’Donnell+Tuomey, who have also designed the neighbouring V&A East and Sadler’s Wells East.

The three mid-block buildings of Stratford Waterfront, designed by Howells, feature strong textured masonry bands that connect them to their East Bank neighbours.

At ground level, the scheme will offer multiple café and restaurant options alongside a south-facing waterfront promenade with views into Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Simon Ryan, development director at Ballymore, said: “East Bank is transforming Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with the most ambitious cultural project in a generation.

“With the London College of Fashion, UAL and UCL East already open, Sadler’s Wells East will follow later this year with V&A East, and BBC Music Studios soon after.

“So, this site demanded new homes of design excellence – in keeping with the bar that has already been set by our cultural and academic partners and neighbours and the site’s most incredible setting by the water and on the park.

“It’s fantastic to have the green light so detailed design work can commence with a view to beginning construction in early 2026.”

The Citadel Place scheme will replace existing low-rise office buildings built in the 1990s that are due to be vacated in 2026. A major part of the site is presently home to the National Crime Agency.

CLS has partnered with architectural firm Allies and Morrison to design Citadel Place.

The plans include building 180-200 new homes and a purpose-built student accommodation block for around 450 bedrooms.

Fredrik Widlund, CEO of CLS Holdings, said: “Citadel Place represents our commitment to sustainable urban development.

“CLS has operated and invested in the Vauxhall area for over 35 years and continues to work closely with the London Borough of Lambeth, residents and the local business community and we are excited to now start on the next phase of development.”

First public consultation sessions will be held on 18 July ahead of submitting a planning application for Citadel Place early next year.

A development partnership between house builder Hill and housing association Poplar HARCA is bringing forward the £800m Treviot Estate redevelopment scheme in the Borough of Tower Hamlets.

As one of the largest estate regenerations in London, the redevelopment of Teviot in Poplar will transform the area as it is built out over five phases.

The partnership has submitted an outline planning application for all phases of the masterplan, including detailed proposals for phase 1 that is set to deliver 475 homes, 45% of which will be affordable.

Subject to approvals, the project is scheduled to start on site in April 2025, with the first homes expected to be completed by 2028. The entire project is forecast to be completed by 2042.

Designed by architect BPTW, the scheme covers eight hectares and offers a wide range of homes from studios and apartments to family houses.

The regeneration will feature new shops and commercial spaces, as well as a new multi-use community centre.

New infrastructure and public realm design focuses on creating safer streets with better pedestrian routes to Langdon Park station and a new foot-tunnel under the A12, with enhanced lighting and CCTV to help reduce anti-social behaviour.

The scheme next to the mouth of the River Lea on the northbank of the Thames will comprise a safeguarded wharf and logistic centre, over 200 affordable flats and accommodation for around 1,400 students.

These will be contained in seven mid-rise buildings, the tallest rising to 30 storeys.

Works will also include raising the Thames river wall and construction of a new pontoon structure for vessel docking and unloading.

Regal also proposes a ground floor cafe and community hub and 80,000 sq ft of landscaped public space.

Regal has now teamed up with Thames Clippers Logistics to use the proposed warehouse and reactivated wharf to develop a high speed light river freight logistics service transporting parcels and goods to central London.

Steve Harrington, planning director at Regal said: “Orchard Wharf has been a real labour of love, and we are delighted to present our wider vision to deliver a new riverside neighbourhood with significant student and affordable housing, relieving the pressures on the housing stock in Tower Hamlets – all alongside a reactivated working wharf.

Orchard Wharf site next to East India Dock Basin

“Regal, with Thames Clipper Logistics, will play a key part in further bringing the River Thames into use to support a more sustainable London for the future.”

Regal has nearly 2,000 consented beds over two locations – Brent and Southwark, with over 2,000 more in the pipeline in Tower Hamlets and Camden.