The area does miss a dialysis centre though...[/quote]
What an odd facility to be missed in a place like London Bridge, in that position, with Guys hospital going to be refurbished and having a big urology unit.. Anyway few months ago somebody was saying that the huge space in empire square Longblane would have been converted into a dyalisis centre...
I agree with those who wish more retail opportunities in the area. Long lane is a km long and has got two food take aways (again) a corner shop and a laundry. Then BHS we know already...
It seems that the previous application to demolish and build a new 7/8 storey office block has now been withdrawn. Perhaps the developers feel they can get the same result by refurbishing and extending?
Did you notice the planning application for the addition of 2 floors at 200 GREAT DOVER STREET and the change of use to B1 office space.
I personally, think it’s a shame not to have the ground floor earmarked for retail space (A1 Shops or A3 Restaurants and cafés). This is important as it will help connect Great Dover Street and Borough High Street and start to create an additional high street centre around Borough Tube Station.
There has been substantial investment in recent years around St George the Martyr piazza linking it to new A1/A3 space at Great Dover 200 – it is an unparalleled opportunity and as such I would hope that the council make sure the developer puts the right plans in place to create and develop the public spaces by linking the ground floor A1/A3 spaces to the street.
Additionally the application asks to classify the all building as B1, I believe again that this is a mistake as mixed use buildings should be encouraged to keep a balanced environment. I would therefore expect a few floors to be assigned C3 residential status. This will enable the local neighbourhood to strengthen.
But this is only my views (which I already sent to the council) any other supporting/contradicting opinions?
Agreed -- this should definitely contain retail at the bottom. It would help to tie together the retail on Long Lane in the tower building and on BHS. It would also, potentially, provide more community-oriented retail/dining than the Dover Castle pub.
The developers failed with a proposal for a residential unit (student accommodation, to be precise). They seem to have gone for this proposal as a response to the feedback they got about the failed proposal. I don't think it's a problem that it's becoming office space, but agree that some retail at ground floor would be good.
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