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.
James Hatts
James co-founded the SE1 website in 1998. Nowadays he maintains a part-time local journalism role alongside a staff position at a major UK consumer advocacy website.
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.
Lambeth
Lambeth North hotel approved by planning inspector
A Government-appointed planning inspector has overturned Lambeth Council's decision to reject plans for an 186-bedroom hotel opposite Lambeth North Station.
History
Lower Marsh: do you have photos from the 50s, 60s or 70s?
The organisers of a community photography project are keen to hear from anyone with photos or memories of Lower Marsh and The Cut in the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s.
History
Sainsbury's founder born in Waterloo 180 years ago
Wednesday 12 June is the 180th anniversary of the birth in Waterloo of John James Sainsbury, founder of one of the UK's best-known supermarket chains.
Elephant & Castle
52 Elephant & Castle homes could lie empty for another two years
52 homes built as part of the Elephant & Castle regeneration programme have been empty for the last five years – and it could be two years or more until residents can move back in.
History
Necropolis Railway station up for sale
An historic building - the last remaining element of a railway station where coffins and mourners left London for a Surrey cemetery - is up for sale with a £4.2 million asking price.
Politics & local government
Devon Mansions: council took TWO YEARS to answer FOI request
The Information Commissioner has ruled that Southwark Council was in breach of the Freedom of Information Act when it took nearly two years to reply to a request for information about a troubled refurbishment programme of a council estate next door to its own HQ.
Transport
Elephant & Castle Rail Station in line for £18m makeover
Plans to install lifts to the platforms at Elephant & Castle's Thameslink rail station are to get a boost with Southwark Council allocating £350,000 of developers' funding for design work.
