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A matching set of gleaming glass towers on Albert Embankment, designed by Foster + Partners, was given permission by Lambeth council last month — on condition old folk get to live in 85 of the 253 apartments.
Not on the front, of course. The curved balconies at 20-21 Albert Embankment will have spectacular views over the river to Tate Britain. Developer St James will be selling those apartments to the rich of any age.
The “senior living” affordable units fill a triangle of space at the back of Hampton House. The flat-fronted office blocks standing empty behind hoardings were owned by the Reuben brothers, Simon and David. They obtained permission in 2008 for a less-exuberant version of the current scheme. Not much appeared to happen until March 2012 when Tony Pidgley’s Berkeley Group bought the site.
The group’s St James subsidiary has promised locals that work will start this year. Lambeth has been promised those 85 flats will be reserved for deserving over-55s — a promise not mentioned at the consultation stage last year, But clearly a growing trend.
St James is building about 600 units of this type on five sites in London. Why? Because of the explosion in elderly baby boomers. Shuffle up and join the queue.
