Loman Street PBSA-led scheme approved in Southwark

The London Borough of Southwark has granted planning permission for a new mixed-use development on Loman Street, comprising purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and affordable housing. The project, designed by Howells for IQ Student Accommodation, will deliver 600 student rooms and 71 affordable homes on a site previously occupied by Blackfriars Crown Court.

The scheme includes two buildings arranged around a new pedestrian route designed to reconnect existing streets in the area. The route will include landscaped public spaces and informal play areas, forming a central green link between the buildings. Both buildings feature their own courtyard gardens.

The affordable housing element consists of duplex homes at street level to promote active frontages, with upper-floor apartments accessed via deck walkways. All homes are dual aspect.

The student accommodation block has been designed to reflect the surrounding architectural context, incorporating textured brickwork, a rhythmic massing strategy, and strong horizontal lines. The building's ground floor is designed to open up to the street, offering active frontages and visual connections to internal courtyards and shared amenities.

Construction on the Loman Street development is expected to begin in 2026.