A three-tower, 338-flat development has been given the green light on Verney Road, the latest scheme to be approved in the Old Kent Road ward.

Southwark Council’s planning committee approved the scheme by four votes to three, with one abstention.

The development will see an 18,19 and 24 storey towers with 338 homes.

Of these, 112 will be for affordable rent, 79 will be for social rent and 33 will be for intermediate rent.

Sherwood Gardens residents objected to the loss of sun but council officers said  the scheme would not have any significant effect.

Cllr Evelyn Akoto also raised concerns about the scheme’s impact on the Grade II listed Canal Grove cottages, but the harm to its heritage did not outweigh the benefits of the development, officers said.

The social housing will be spread across the buildings, but would only be on certain floors, the committee heard.

Cllr Catherine Rose commented that this would mean, “It’s not a poor door, but it’s a poor floor,” but representatives from developer CB Acquisitions LDN Limited made assurances the quality of the homes would be consistent.

Mark Brearley from the Vital OKR business association made a number of objections, including around the loss of industrial space.

Jerry Flynn from the 35% campaign also called for a late stage review of the developer’s profits to check whether more affordable housing could be built in the scheme.

But the scheme was approved, with an additional condition requiring lifts for cycle parking, as well as conditions to ensure that ground contamination, surface water drainage, archaeology and ecology would be adequately dealt with.

The developer would pay into the council’s Carbon Off-set Green Fund, with the scheme expected to be air quality neutral.