Blount Street, Tower Hamlets

Client: Southern Grove Blount Street Limited

Architects: DMWR Architects

Description of Development: Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment to deliver 106 bedrooms of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) with associated internal and external amenity space, cycle parking, and ground floor commercial uses.

Location: 7–15 Blount Street, London E14 7RL

Summary

The Blount Street project will regenerate a brownfield site in Tower Hamlets with a high-quality scheme providing 106 student bedrooms alongside new commercial incubator space. The development will support London’s higher education sector, deliver affordable student accommodation, and create active street-level uses that contribute to the local economy.

Maddox Planning advised Southern Grove through the appeal process, securing permission following a public inquiry in June 2024.

Key Issues Addressed

Land Use and Housing Delivery: The Inspector recognised the strong demand for student accommodation locally and across London. By delivering 106 PBSA units, including 35% affordable provision, the scheme meets identified needs while relieving pressure on traditional housing.

Design and Townscape: The Inspector found the height, massing, and architectural treatment to be appropriate in this dense urban context. The scheme will deliver a well-integrated new building with high-quality design and materials.

Living Conditions: Careful assessment confirmed that while some neighbouring properties at Rayners Terrace would experience reductions in daylight and sunlight, these impacts were limited, primarily affected secondary bedroom windows, and did not result in unacceptable harm overall. Privacy impacts were also judged acceptable given the tight-knit urban character.

Public Realm and Connectivity: At ground level, 400sqm of flexible commercial and incubator space will provide workshops and meeting rooms, enhancing the area’s employment offer. Improved landscaping, cycle parking, and car-free development will encourage sustainable travel.

Sustainability: The scheme commits to high environmental standards, including PV solar arrays, sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS), and BREEAM Excellent certification. Biodiversity enhancements will also be delivered through green roofs and landscaped terraces.

Development Highlights

Blount Street will deliver a contemporary student living environment in the heart of Tower Hamlets, supporting both local universities and the borough’s economy. By transforming a low-grade commercial site into a sustainable, mixed-use development, the project showcases how PBSA can be sensitively delivered in London’s inner boroughs.

Maddox Planning played a key role in securing the consent, providing evidence on planning balance, housing needs, daylight/sunlight, and design. The Inspector concluded that the public benefits of the scheme significantly outweigh the limited harms, ensuring this brownfield site contributes positively to the borough’s growth and regeneration.

The proposed development from Salmon Lane