Project for Southwark Charities to nearly double the size of existing 1960s almshouse
Mae has submitted a planning application for a 71-home passivhaus almshouse scheme in Southwark.
The 2023 Stirling Prize winner’s plans for Southwark Charities would replace an existing 41-home almshouse in Bermondsey with a newbuild six-storey scheme containing 100% affordable homes.
The existing three-storey building, St Mary Newington Close, was completed in 1969 but now needs “significant investment” to bring it up to modern regulatory standards, according to Mae.
Structural engineer Whitby Wood investigated the feasibility of retaining and expanding the existing building but concluded the scheme would have limited the number of new almshouses which could be provided.
All homes in the new scheme will be classed as affordable, will have a minimum floorspace of 55sq m and will be dual aspect.
The scheme is the second of two Southwark Charities almshouse projects, with the first being 220 Blackfriars Road, an EPR-designed redevelopment of an almshouse site near Southwark station.
This scheme, which is currently being built by JRL, is replacing the Edward Edwards House almshouse with a 22-storey office tower and 64 replacement almshouses. Current residents of St Mary Newington Close will be relocated to 220 Blackfriars Road when it completes in 2028.
Meanwhile, the former residents of 220 Blackfriars Road before the site’s redevelopment have been moved to Appleby Blue, the Witherford Watson Mann-designed later living scheme which won the 2025 Stirling Prize in October.
The project team for St Mary Newington Close includes development manager Pelican Development Management Limited, QS and project manager Gardiner & Theobald, planning and heritage consultant Turley, structural and civil engineer Whitby Wood, landscape architect MRG Studio, fire engineer Jensen Hughes and transport consultant TTP.
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