The end of an era for Rotherhithe raving is in sight after Southwark councillors gave the go ahead for Printworks to be redeveloped as offices.
The former newspaper printing site, owned by British Land, has been a nightclub and events space for six years, but this was always meant to be a temporary use.
Nevertheless, Printworks has gained a global reputation over the years it has been running. About ten thousand people signed a petition calling for the club to be allowed to continue.
Printworks was named the seventh best club in the world by DJ Mag last year – and British Land’s planning application had hundreds of objections from people pointing out its reputation as one of the best venues in the capital.
Nevertheless, recommending that British Land’s application to redevelop the site be given the green light on Monday (July 11), council officers said in their report: “It is noted that a significant number of objections have been received in respect of the loss of the club/music venue currently operating on the site. It is acknowledged that this use has been very successful.
“However, the events use was initiated as a short term interim (meanwhile) use in 2016 pending development of the building within the masterplan. It was never intended to be a permanent use of the site.”
The developer will now knock down the site and rebuild it as offices and shops in a part-five, part-six, part-seven storey building. The project will create between 2,300 and 3,010 jobs, the company said as part of its planning application.
This is part of the multi-billion-pound Canada Water masterplan, in which British Land is building 3,500 homes in the Rotherhithe area.
British Land told the News in November last year that it “believes that culture will play an important role as part of a new urban centre at Canada Water,” despite Printworks being set to close.
The developer added that it was in talks with Broadwick Live, who help run the venue, “as a key collaborator and tenant, following their success in the Printworks over the last five years.”
Originally reported by Southwark News.
