Southwark Council's Planning Committee has granted permission for the Timber Square Phase 2 development at 63 Ewer Street, despite objections from local groups. The decision was made during a meeting on Tuesday, 22 July 2025.

The approved plans involve the partial demolition of the existing viaduct structure and the remodelling of existing arches to accommodate flexible office, retail, gymnasium, restaurant, and cultural uses. Two new buildings, one 12-storey and one 15-storey, will be constructed for flexible office and indoor sports facilities.

Architectural rendering of the proposed Timber Square development, Phase 2, showing the remodelled arches and new buildings.
Architectural rendering of the proposed Timber Square development, Phase 2, showing the remodelled arches and new buildings.

The Conservation Area Action Group (CAAG) had objected to the application, raising concerns about the lack of housing, loss of sui generis floorspace, inadequate public open space, lack of active frontages, impacts on heritage matters, and poor public consultation. The CAAG's objection included the loss of sui generis floorspace, a Latin term meaning of its own kind, which refers to uses that do not fall within any particular use class order. This includes flexible cultural, drinking establishment, live music venue, nightclub, cinema, and theatre uses. Living Bankside also voiced concerns, stating that the impacts of the scheme outweighed the benefits, particularly regarding daylight and sunlight, heritage assets, lack of housing, poor consultation, construction noise, and lack of green space. To address concerns about construction noise, the Director of Planning and Growth has been authorised to make minor modifications to the proposed conditions arising out of detailed negotiations.

Despite these objections, the committee, chaired by Councillor Richard Livingstone, approved the application, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement. A Section 106 agreement is a legally binding agreement between a local planning authority and a developer, used to mitigate the impact of a development on the community and infrastructure.

The Director of Planning and Growth has been authorised to make minor modifications to the proposed conditions arising out of detailed negotiations.

The meeting also addressed other planning applications, including the New City Court redevelopment and amendments to the Chambers Wharf project, but those decisions will be covered in separate reports.