Planning

Antony & Roderick House began as research – a 2016 study by HTA and Apex Airspace into the potential of rooftop development to tackle London’s housing shortage. That research informed a proactive planning strategy, identifying sites with the right conditions for airspace development. Located in Bermondsey, the buildings sat within Southwark’s Abbeyfield Estate but were excluded from the wider estate renewal programme, making them an ideal pilot for an innovative approach.

HTA’s planning team led feasibility and capacity testing, assessing both infill and vertical extension opportunities. Although rooftop development aligned with national housing ambitions, planning policy was less familiar with this typology. In particular, proposals to utilise central infill were initially resisted. Our team built a compelling case rooted in context, housing need, and resident benefit.

After extensive design testing and dialogue with officers, we secured consent in 2020 for a scheme that delivers 30 affordable homes with no net loss of existing dwellings. The project directly supports Lambeth & Southwark Housing Association in addressing hidden homelessness by creating homes for people already connected to the estate.

Through strategic engagement and a strong narrative around design quality, the planning process became a vehicle for change. It enabled us to unlock homes, retrofit existing buildings and deliver public realm improvements – all without displacing residents. This project exemplifies planning as a research-led and community-positive discipline.