James Hatts

Hotels

Borough High Street: green light for 'boutique hotel'

Plans to convert an empty office building in Borough High Street into a 47-bedroom 'boutique hotel' have been approved by Southwark councillors.

History

SE1's lost gardens featured in new exhibition

From a Bankside brothel to a temporary ecological park next to Tower Bridge, several of the 'lost' gardens of Southwark and Lambeth are featured in a new Garden Museum exhibition.

Churches

Gaia: giant Earth artwork returns to Southwark Cathedral

Luke Jerram’s Gaia – a seven-metre artistic representation of the planet Earth – has returned to Southwark Cathedral as part of a programme designed to inspire visitors of all ages into positive action to protect the planet.

Transport

Old Kent Road: 'no room' for continuous cycle lanes

Southwark Council is to ask Transport for London to reconsider plans for segregated cycle lanes on the Old Kent Road amid concerns that they would not run continuously along the full length of the road.

Parks & green spaces

Tate Gallery objects to Southwark plan for Mandela Way park

The Tate Gallery has objected to Southwark Council's plan to create a new public park in the Mandela Way area, arguing that it would put priceless artworks in its collection store at risk of theft.

Transport

Old Kent Road's 'Bakerloop' bus could have tube-style interior

More details of the proposed 'Bakerloop' express bus along the Old Kent Road that will act as a prequel to the Bakerloo line extension have been revealed at a Southwark Council cabinet meeting.

River Thames

"It was a pity ... but never mind" - Boris on £43m Garden Bridge:

Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson has described the cancellation of the highly controversial Garden Bridge project - which left taxpayers with a £43 million bill - as "a pity".

Arts & culture

The Arzner: LGBTQ+ cinema proposed for Bermondsey Square

This week councillors will decide on a licence application to reopen the former cinema in Bermondsey Square as a venue with a focus on LGBTQ+ film.

Food & drink

The Sun Wharf: Wetherspoon's plans London Bridge Station pub

London Bridge Station could soon gain a Wetherspoon's pub, with the chain planning a new boozer in part of the former London Dungeon premises on Tooley Street.

Transport

Bakerloo line extension: new Government urged to bring tube to Old Kent Road

Leading Southwark politicians have used the weeks since the general election to urge the new Government to support the Bakerloo line extension.

Planning & Development

Neo Bankside: council vetoes attempt to curb evening public access

Southwark Council has rejected a proposal to change the hours during which the public can use the pedestrian routes through the luxury Neo Bankside development next to Tate Modern.

Planning & Development

Hotel conversion plan for Borough High Street office block

Plans to convert an office building in Borough High Street into a 47-bedroom hotel have been submitted to Southwark Council.

Planning & Development

Waterloo phone box can become coffee kiosk, planning inspector rules

A Government-appointed planning inspector has ruled that a defunct red phone box outside the Waterloo Action Centre can be used as a coffee kiosk, overturning Lambeth Council's decision to veto the proposal.

Politics & local government

Labour's Neil Coyle returned as Bermondsey & Old Southwark MP

Neil Coyle reiterated his apology for his behaviour in the last Parliament as he began his fourth term as Bermondsey & Old Southwark MP.

Transport

Student accommodation could be built above Southwark Tube Station

TfL has revealed that it is considering dumping its approved office block scheme for the Southwark Tube Station site in favour of a student accommodation scheme.

Southwark

Royal Mail changes postbox collection times in SE1

Postboxes across SE1 could now have their last collection of the day as early as 9am, with just a handful of boxes still being emptied in the afternoon and evening.