London Road/Borough Road terraces & LSBU development

In the May issue of Grand Designs mag there is an interesting article on the derelict 1820s Georgian terraces, including the Duke of Clarence, at St Georges Circus and what their current status is.

Basically, according to the article 'In Peril', South Bank Uni bought them with a view to demolishing the whole lot to redevelop the site for the Uni. This plan was halted due to local intervention. The Georgian Group put an application in to English Heritage to have them listed, but that was turned down and they now sit on Southwark Councils At Risk register. However it seems that the Uni has given ok to a 15 year plan for the site which includes stablilising and restoring the terraces but no long term use has been agreed yet.

The article questions whether the terraces should have listed or not and asks for your thoughts to be emailed to them ...

If you see a copy in the newsagent and fancy a peep - it's on page 151



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 23 March 2006 12.48pm by James Hatts.

It really is a SHAME that whole block is standing rotting...the buldings are indeed lovely and could be turned into whizzy flats while keeping their facades instead of these awful blocks everyone wants. The area has been boarded up for ages. Do you have the email of the Georgian Group?

I hope these are not knocked down as my grandparents owned the newsagents next to the Duke of Clarence from the 30's right up to the mid 70s. When they sold it they all sorts of trouble with the lease as they could only get it renewed for 5 years at a time, so clearly Southwark council had plans for these buildings way back then. It is such a shame these are now derelict; they managed to evade Hitler's bombs (unlike a large portfolio of the surrounding area) only to fall apart due to neglect.

Slightly confused by Julie's first post - possibly reflecting sloppy journalism in the "property porn" magazine.

All the buildings are now listed - hence eligible to appear on EH's Buildings at Risk Register.

See this thread from February

There had once been a plan for the National Film and Television School to relocate to the site.

For the previous list of London South Bank University's listed buildings at risk in the area, see:

Duke of Clarence
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/bar/asp/details.asp?barID=3437

123-131 London Road, Southwark
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/bar/asp/details.asp?barID=3439

113-119 Borough Road
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/bar/asp/details.asp?barID=3438

The Presbyterian Chapel
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/bar/asp/details.asp?barID=2040

Thanks for the update! My post was an edited version of article that leads you to believe the buildings aren't listed ... and questions whether they should be or not. The fact that they are makes me wonder why this article was published though I guess it advertises the fact that these once grand buildings are in a sorry state, which can't be a bad thing if something gets done to secure them.

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/1658

Now why doesn't the University sell the houses to a developer who can turn them into houses. And use the money to buy some unpleasant brownfield site somewhere close & put up 100 storey student residences.

No, Jackie, we don't want them turning into whizzy flats. They are houses!

SURE Mapmaker....Whizzy HOUSES!

I have been interested in the future of the Duke of Clarence site for some years, as I live opposite.

I recall two plans to develop the land at Duke of Clarence in the recent past.

As mentioned earlier in this thread at one point South Bank Uni had planned to site a Film and Television School here. There was also an alternative plan to develop a new university sports centre on this site. I believe I heard this at one of the Council run briefing sessions last year on the E&C redevelopment. There was a hint that it would include a swimming pool that local residents would also be able to use. No formal plans had been submitted as they didn't have the funds. It is interesting to note that South Bank Uni now have the money for two other nearby developments
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/1658

Although the buildings may be listed, the roofs are no longer sound and therefore there must be a risk that they will deteriorate beyond repair over the next year or so. Which is a shame.

Recently an illuminated advertising hoarding has been built facing onto London Road and there were plans to erect another advertising hoarding (although the Southwark Council planning site indicates this was refused in May)

S

Would anyone be interested in starting a bit of a group with me to try & save this building/put it back to its original use? Any comments or any other informatiion would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Victoriaxx



Edited 2 times. Last edit at 9 September 2005 3.48pm by Victoria Rose.