The plans include four blocks of between four and 30 storeys with 530 flats, 20 per cent of which will be let at “London living rent”, where rent is set at one third of average local income.
There will also be a nine-screen cinema, work and retail spaces and restaurants and a gym.
In February, councillors on Lewisham’s strategic development committee expressed frustration they could only influence the layout, appearance, scale and landscaping of phase two, with the application already granted outline planning permission in 2009.
But councillors approved the changes to the scheme, which includes changing black, navy and burgundy ceramic tiles to ‘earthy toned’ tiles of terracotta, brown and cream.
Some of the gold accenting which had been described as “brash and overpowering” by objectors has been given a matte finish to ‘tone it down’.
Developers will also plant six hornbeam trees in planter boxes along the high street, which are expected to get to around 10m tall, as well as low level shrub planting at Molesworth Street, Lewisham High Street, Confluence Place and St Stephen’s square, as well as planting across rooftops on two of the blocks .
All four of the blocks will have ‘living roof’ – a roof covered with vegetation.
Members were also told seating would have stainless steel edges which could be replaced when used by skateboarders, with the site open to the public.
Cllr James-J Walsh said he was pleased to see the changes and moved for the changes to be approved.
Phase one of the development saw 193 flats built over two buildings at 25 and 15 storeys high, and involved the re-routing of the Ravensbourne and Quaggy rivers and the redesign of the road network near the station.
At a February strategic planning committee, Cllr Paul Bell expressed concerns about the corporate structure of the development’s future landlord Get Living.
As a real estate investment trust, the company pays no corporate tax and distributes 90 per cent of its income to shareholders, which include the state of Qatar.
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