The Southwark Developers Forum was an impressive affair set in the equally impressive setting of Landsec’s Timber Square development in the Riverside part of the Borough writes Terrapin Peter Bingle.Much of the development industry active in Southwark was there. I sense there was an element of curiosity. The senior officer team hasn’t changed. It is still one of the best and most respected in local government. What has changed is the politics …The two political speeches (by Lib Dem Victor Chamberlain and Green Alexandra Austin) said all the right things about working with developers to improve the borough …Yet, it is clear that the old political order in Southwark is no more and the new order is yet to fully emerge. That said, one thing is patently clear. The key issue going forward for developers in Southwark is the level of affordable housing. Anything under 35 per cent simply won’t do and will be refused (probably unanimously) at the planning committee. So it will take a little longer to see where the new Southwark administration is taking us …What marks out Southwark from other Green or Green/Lib Dem administrations in London is council leader James McAsh who has shown himself to be politically savvy. It was a shame James wasn’t able to attend the developer forum. Southwark remains a borough full of opportunity for developers. It will be interesting to see where things stand in a year’s time. Team Terrapin : We understand the new political order in Southwark …
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