Southwark Council's Planning Committee unanimously approved plans to demolish the former Hollington Youth Club on Comber Grove in Camberwell and replace it with a six-storey residential building containing 39 flats. The decision was made during a meeting on July 22, 2026.
Background of the youth club site
The youth club, originally established in the 1890s on Hollington Road, moved to Comber Grove in the 1950s. It was operated by the charity DMC Hollington Trust and included a boxing gym, sports hall, offices, and changing facilities. The club closed in 2017 due to financial difficulties, and the building has been vacant since.
According to planning documents, the club faced financial troubles during 2015 and 2016. John Murray, reading a statement on behalf of the Trust's Chairman, explained: "Eventually the upkeep of the club and keeping it fit-for-purpose became uneconomical and meant that if it continued, it would have to be liquidated within a year or two."
Details of the new development
The approved plans include 39 flats, with 40% designated as affordable housing. This comprises nine social rent homes (five one-beds, one two-bed, and three three-beds), five shared ownership properties (two two-beds and three three-beds), and 25 private homes (10 one-beds, 11 two-beds, and four three-beds).
The development will also include cycle and refuse storage, a communal roof terrace for under-5 play space, and communal and private amenity space. Planning officers considered the loss of community space acceptable given the provision of 40% affordable housing.
Trust's perspective and community impact
DCM Hollington Trust supported the proposals, viewing them as an "excellent way" to achieve its aims of supporting local communities. Murray noted that the Trust had been unable to support Southwark's youth for the past decade without a viable option, but the scheme will allow it to continue operating long-term through interest earned.
He added: "Sadly with the COVID pandemic and increased costs, the developer for this scheme had to withdraw since it became uneconomical. DCM Hollington Trust then looked at the next best thing to help the local situation and after discussing with the council and various local bodies decided that we would look at the social housing scheme which has for some while been badly needed in the borough."
Objections and conditions
Nine objections were received from neighbouring properties, citing concerns that the plans were "out of character" with surrounding buildings and that the development was too "bulky". However, planning officers stated that the proposals underwent an "extensive" pre-application process and were considered acceptable in design quality and layout.
During approval, the committee added extra conditions regarding the upkeep of the site's green spaces.
