The Eastern Yards phase consists of five buildings ranging from seven to 34 storeys tall. These will deliver 550,000 sq ft of the 1.4m sq ft Bankside Yards site by the Thames.

The latest approval for the former site of Sampson House paves the way for 341 new homes, a 5-star, 126-bed hotel, together with office space.

Planned 5-star hotel

Alasdair Nicholls, chief executive of Native Land, said: “This new planning consent will create a true mixed-use development which brings London together, with new east-west pedestrian routes, multiple transport links, a new village high street in the arches and new town square for Bankside, overlooking the river.”

The entire Bankside Yards project received planning consent in 2014 for homes, offices, restaurants, cultural uses and open space in a 5.5-acre riverside estate in central London, set around 14 historic railway arches.

Multiplex won the first phase at Bankside Yards, known as Western Yards, which started last year with McGee extending its demolition contract to the basement and concrete core for the initial 230,000 sq ft offices project, known as the Arbor.

This initial phase also includes a 240-home apartment building and 49,500 of independent retail, restaurant, cultural and amenity space in the restored railway arches.

The New Homes Ombudsman will step in to help homebuyers with issues from sloppy brick work to faulty wiring.

All developers will have to belong to the Ombudsman which will have statutory powers to award compensation, ban rogue developers from building and order firms to fix poor building work.

Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “It’s completely unacceptable that so many people struggle to get answers when they find issues with their dream new home.

“That’s why the Ombudsman will stop rogue developers getting away with shoddy building work and raise the game of housebuilders across the sector.

“Homebuyers will be able to access help when they need it, so disputes can be resolved faster and people can get the compensation they deserve.

“Currently, homebuyers who purchase new builds have no independent way of challenging developers’ service or poor workmanship.”

The scheme is one of the capital’s most ambitious build-to-rent developments yet.

Plans for the former biscuit factory in Southwark has been designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and also include a new 600-place secondary school at its heart, over 110,000 sq ft of new public spaces and almost 20,000 sq ft of new playspace.

Three tall buildings will act as a marker for the scheme

Around 35% of the new homes to be built as part of the redevelopment of the Biscuit Factory and Bermondsey Campus in Southwark will be affordable housing, including homes at social rent levels.

12-acre biscuit factory site sits close to the Thames in south London

Southwark Council refused permission for the scheme in February 2019, saying the plans would not deliver enough affordable housing and that the homes would not be of sufficient quality.

The Mayor saw the application last May and decided to take it over to subject it to further scrutiny. Since his intervention, the number of homes has been increased from 1,342 to 1,548 and the level of affordable housing has been boosted from 27.5% to 35%.

New residential buildings overlooking public square

Simon Harding-Roots, Executive Director, Major Projects, Grosvenor Britain & Ireland, said: “This project speaks directly to our purpose as a business – to bring lasting social and commercial benefit to the communities where we work. All the approved homes are for rent, and none are for sale. Every home will be occupied and managed by a responsible landlord with a genuine long-term interest in ensuring the neighbourhood thrives.”