Demolition work finally underway on Bermondsey’s Maydew House
A Bermondsey tower block that’s sat vacant for years has seen long-awaited demolition finally commence.
It’s now twelve years since plans for renovation and extension were made and then scraped. Southwark Council claimed the building has damp, structural issues and cracks.
All previous residents were moved out and the 26-floor block on Abbeyfield estate stood as a monument to various delays and failures in the intervening 12 years.
Visible for miles around, the block dates from the mid 1960s and is one of the main features when travelling in or out of London via London Bridge station.
Plans abandoned
A total of five floors and 24 flats were due to be added to the structure.
It took six years for renovation plans to be approved in 2018 before Southwark Council stated costs had risen to £70 million rendering the project unviable and opted for demolition.
That has taken longer than expected. When a demolition contract was awarded in 2023 it was stated work would be complete by early 2025.
It’s now expected the building will complete by summer 2025. It’ll certainly be an easy project to view from passing trains.
No confirmed plan for development on the site have yet been made.
Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said “The decision to demolish Maydew House has not been an easy one but it is one that we have had to take given the multiple challenges, including the fire safety and structural integrity of this block.
“Southwark residents deserve energy efficient and high quality homes and today is a significant step, as we move ahead to dismantle the old, empty tower to make space for brand new high-quality homes, including larger family sized homes. The demolition will mark the start of a new chapter for Abbeyfield Estate and we will work with residents to make plans for the space cleared by the derelict building.
“We are exploring how we can deliver future homes here, and we are working closely with the Abbeyfield Estate Resident Steering Group to plan the future of the estate. we will keep local residents up to date as our plans develop. We are also working closely with the Bede Centre, whose base is at the foot of the block, to ensure they can continue their important work with as few interruptions as possible. We continue to work with Bede on longer term options for the centre.”
