After revising an earlier larger scheme, Fifth Estate has gained approval for a 477-bedroom student accommodation project at Ilderton Wharf, South Bermondsey, which incorporates affordable homes and industrial space to create a balanced, community-oriented neighbourhood.
Fifth Estate has secured planning permission for its ambitious Ilderton Wharf project in South Bermondsey, London, marking a key development in the area’s evolving housing and industrial landscape. Southwark Council approved the mixed-use scheme designed by HTA Design, which replaces a previously approved proposal, positioning the project as a fresh vision for the site, which was formerly home to a builders’ merchants facility.
The new development comprises three interconnected buildings offering 477 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) bedrooms, alongside 80 affordable homes and approximately 23,000 square feet of light industrial space. The PBSA element is designed with communal amenities, co-working spaces, and a ground-floor café intended to foster community interaction. Alex Springer, Founder of Fifth Estate, expressed pride in the project’s role in creating a mixed, inclusive neighbourhood. He highlighted the initiative to improve local facilities by committing funds to enhance the playground at nearby Ilderton Primary School, emphasising the importance of providing children with safe, inspiring environments for learning and play.
This approval follows a history of significant revisions and alternatives proposed for Ilderton Wharf. Initially, in late 2023, Southwark Council had approved a much larger student accommodation scheme designed by tp bennett, which featured 688 rooms. However, Fifth Estate recalibrated the scheme, later submitting an environmental impact assessment in July 2024 suggesting a more modest scale with 477 student bedrooms, reflecting a more balanced approach that also incorporates affordable housing and industrial units. The council subsequently recommended approval in mid-2025, confirming support for Fifth Estate’s vision.
HTA Design’s work on the project exemplifies thoughtful urban design, blending residential, industrial, and community uses in a way aimed at contributing to the wider regeneration of the Old Kent Road Opportunity Area near South Bermondsey station. The project team also includes CGP MEP as building services engineers, Expedition as structural engineers, and RWDI providing environmental consultancy.
Ilderton Wharf is one of several student accommodation and affordable housing developments recently approved in Southwark, reflecting ongoing efforts to address housing demands and community needs in this rapidly changing part of London. For instance, in March 2025, another purpose-built student accommodation project comprising 429 studios and 44 affordable homes was approved above Southwark Tube station through a joint venture between Places for London and Helical. Additionally, Apex Airspace gained approval for 30 affordable homes over existing residential blocks in nearby Bermondsey earlier this year, highlighting a trend towards mixed-use, densified urban living solutions.
The Ilderton Wharf development, while resolutely geared towards students, also acknowledges the broader community dimension through its affordable housing and industrial elements. This multipurpose strategy is consistent with Southwark Council’s goals of fostering inclusive, vibrant neighbourhoods that cater both to residential needs and local employment opportunities. As development progresses, the project will be closely watched as a potential benchmark for balanced urban renewal.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://pbsanews.co.uk/2025/07/10/fifth-states-ilderton-wharf-pbsa-granted-planning-approval/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/tp-bennett-wins-planning-for-southwark-scheme-replacing-hta-proposal – In December 2023, Southwark Council approved a 688-room student accommodation scheme designed by tp bennett, replacing an earlier 219-home proposal by HTA Design. The development aims to provide much-needed student housing in the area. (architectsjournal.co.uk)
- https://www.estatesgazette.co.uk/news/fifth-state-rethinks-ilderton-wharf-scheme/ – In July 2024, Fifth State submitted an environmental impact assessment for the Jewson site on Ilderton Wharf, proposing a 477-bed student accommodation scheme. The plans also include 80 affordable homes and 23,000 sq ft of light industrial space. (estatesgazette.co.uk)
- https://www.estatesgazette.co.uk/news/council-set-to-approve-fifth-states-ilderton-wharf-scheme/ – In June 2025, Southwark Council received a recommendation to approve Fifth State’s 477-bed student accommodation scheme on Ilderton Wharf. The development also includes 80 affordable homes and 23,000 sq ft of light industrial space. (estatesgazette.co.uk)
- https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/hta-design-gets-green-light-for-southwark-mixed-use-scheme – In July 2025, Southwark Council approved HTA Design’s mixed-use Ilderton Wharf development in South Bermondsey, which replaces a previously approved scheme by Stitch Architects. (architectsjournal.co.uk)
- https://www.apexairspace.co.uk/antony-and-roderick-gains-planning-permission/ – Apex Airspace successfully gained planning approval from Southwark Council to build 30 affordable homes on top of and connecting existing residential buildings Antony House & Roderick House in Bermondsey. The development includes a bespoke steel structure to carry the weight of the new homes. (apexairspace.co.uk)
- https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Places%2Bfor%2BLondon%2Band%2BHelical%2Bsecure%2Bplanning%2Bapproval%2Bfor%2Bdevelopment%2Babove%2BSouthwark%2BTube%2Bstation%2B07032025092000 – In March 2025, a joint venture between Places for London and Helical received planning approval from the London Borough of Southwark for a 15-storey purpose-built student accommodation scheme comprising 429 studio apartments, and an adjacent nine-storey building comprising 44 affordable homes, above Southwark Tube station. (tfl.gov.uk)
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Notes: The narrative reports on the recent planning approval for Fifth Estate’s Ilderton Wharf project in South Bermondsey, London. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 4 July 2025, when HTA Design’s mixed-use Ilderton Wharf development received approval from Southwark Council. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, the presence of recycled content and the reliance on a press release suggest a need for further verification.
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