04 June 2024
Summary: Ceremony marks laying of the final bricks and the completion of the external structures of two residential towers at 840 Old Kent Road
A topping out ceremony was held on Thursday, 30th May to celebrate the laying of the final bricks and the completion of the external structures of two residential towers at 840 Old Kent Road. MTVH will be delivering and managing 171 new affordable flats in two blocks comprise 21 and 13 storeys respectively – this will include 58 at London affordable rent; 81 shared ownership units and 32 at London living rent. The development also includes approximately 16,900 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, which will rehouse the existing Aldi store to a high-quality modernised unit.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from development partners Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) and HG Construction with representatives Southwark Council also present including Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development. Also in attendance to celebrate the topping out were staff from the consultancy Rund, who provided design and contractual support.
The site is located within the Old Kent Rd Opportunity Area, which is identified by the Mayor of London with potential for 12,000 new homes and 5,000 new jobs by 2041. The Area Action Plan (AAP) will see major urban transformations, including the planned extension of the Bakerloo Line via Old Kent Road which will result in a new underground station close to the new homes.
The development was made in consultation with the community to gauge their views on the best outcomes for local people and to contribute to their ambitions for the area. As the building progressed a group of students from the local Skills Centre visited the two sites, providing them with detailed skills information. Support was also given by the development team to local groups including sponsorship to Peckham Soup Kitchen for their back-to-school initiative, and Construction Youth Trust which involved going into schools and colleges to give skills and interview technique training.
Geeta Nanda OBE, Chief Executive of MTVH said: “We are delighted to have been involved in this partnership. This project will provide 171 much needed affordable homes for the residents of Southwark and make a vital contribution to life in the borough. The Old Kent Road project is all part of MTVH’s commitment to provide more affordable, secure, housing we need, to give residents and the wider community the chance to live well.”
Adam Quinn, CEO of HG Construction said: “This important milestone enables us to recognise the team for all their hard work and commitment to date and to showcase our fantastic progress to project stakeholders including Southwark Council representatives. The Old Kent Road scheme will make an important contribution to the housing provision in the Southwark area, and we look forward to working collaboratively with MTVH as the project continues to progress.”
A spokesperson from Southwark Council said “It’s great to see the progress made on these new homes. Southwark Council is committed to providing a range of affordable homes and we’re delighted to be working with MTVH and HG Construction to facilitate this project. We are also delighted the construction has involved supporting local youngsters with skills training to help improve their employment prospects. We congratulate all partner organisations for their contribution to providing new homes, to the local economy and community.”