The London Borough of Southwark is poised for a transformative year in 2026, with a series of major construction projects set to begin or reach completion. Following a significant 2025 that saw the opening of the Canada Water Leisure Centre and approval for a £350 million life sciences hub near London Bridge, the borough's landscape is continuing to evolve rapidly.
Housing and Regeneration Projects Set to Commence
One of the most prominent schemes involves Southwark Tube Station. Earlier in December 2025, plans were re-approved for a 15-storey student accommodation tower to be built directly above the Jubilee Line station. The project, which also includes a nine-storey block providing 44 new council homes and a community hall on the Styles House estate, will deliver 429 student rooms in total. With a technicality around the station's Grade II-listed status now resolved, construction is expected to start in 2026 for completion by 2028.
Meanwhile, significant progress continues on the Tustin Estate renewal off Old Kent Road. Early works for Phase 2 are already underway, with main construction scheduled to begin in April 2026. The full rebuild of the 53-year-old estate will eventually provide 690 new homes. The first phase, delivering 167 homes (157 of which are council homes), is nearly complete.
In Bermondsey, building work has restarted on 40 new council homes at the Fendall and Maltby site on the St Saviours Estate. The project, which was paused after the original contractor went into administration, is now being completed by Bloom Construction and is expected to be finished by spring 2026.
Community and Leisure Facilities Taking Shape
Sports fans will welcome the recent approval of land arrangements for the redevelopment of Dulwich Hamlet FC's stadium. The project will transform the ground into a modern, 4,000-capacity stadium featuring an all-weather pitch and new facilities. The wider scheme also includes 219 new homes in the vicinity. Club Chairman Ben Clasper stated that the first phase of stadium development began in December 2025, marking a return to the club's historic home.
Culture is also getting a boost with a new multi-arts centre scheduled to open in The Blue in Bermondsey in Spring 2026. The council has appointed Bermondsey 223 to run the centre, which will focus on a photography-based arts offer. It will provide affordable studio space for emerging photographers and host a programme of community events.
Infrastructure and Environmental Upgrades
Residents at Greenland Dock in Surrey Quays will see the final phase of improvement works completed by spring 2026. The initial phase, which provided stronger mooring facilities and new utility points for the 65 residential boats, is already finished. The final stage will involve installing a new, higher-capacity electricity substation to resolve ongoing power reliability issues at the site.
Together, these developments underscore a year of substantial investment and change for Southwark, addressing needs in housing, community infrastructure, and leisure while shaping the borough's future skyline and local amenities.
