The Rich Estate
The client
SOL Environment provides comprehensive sustainability services to London Square in redeveloping the Rich industrial estate in Bermondsey, south-east London.
Property developers London Square specialise in high-quality housing across Greater London. The company focuses on redeveloping brownfield sites, repurposing land and creating new, vibrant communities while enhancing biodiversity. Sustainability is a key value at London Square. They aim to achieve Net Zero in all new housing by 2030, and to become an entirely carbon-neutral developer by 2040.
The redevelopment of the Rich industrial estate in Bermondsey is a characteristic London Square project. Now in Phase 3, it’s set to deliver a total of 406 new homes, 35% of which constitute affordable housing, and 225,000 square feet of working premises. The development includes new homes for local charities Tannery Arts and Southwark Studios, which provide affordable workspaces for artists and artisans.
The challenge
The primary challenge of the Rich Estate redevelopment was to retain the existing heritage elements of the site, such as the historic Pickle Factory and Tannery Building, while also achieving a modern, efficient and sustainable design. As part of the Old Kent Road Opportunity Area (OKROA), this flagship housing development would also set the standard for all future projects.
The process
Southwark Council approved the masterplan for the redevelopment of the Rich Estate in 2016. Since then, the redevelopment has been conducted in phases and is currently in Phase 3. In line with London Square’s community ethos, the project includes residential, commercial, cultural, and retail uses.
The SOL Environment team have been involved with every phase of the project, providing sustainability services (including Whole Life Carbon and Circular Economy) and BREEAM Assessment services. We have worked closely with London Square to face the challenges presented by combining heritage preservation with sustainable, resilient and future-facing design. While this process has not been an easy one to navigate, it has led to some beneficial Circular Economy and Whole Life Carbon savings.
The outcome
With the first two phases complete, the Rich Estate redevelopment has already made a significant improvement to local quality of life. The neglected and run-down buildings of the industrial estate are coming back to life, with Tannery Arts and Southwark Studios now operating from their new premises. SOL’s Building Sustainability team is excited to continue collaboration with London Square as Phase 3 continues.
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