Work to begin next year for LSE's redevelopment of Bankside House

Image: courtesy of Sheppard Robson/ Jeudi Wang

Works are expected to begin in 2027 on the new student residences at Bankside House for the London School of Economics (LSE) designed by Sheppard Robson, and opening before September 2032.

The architects practice will work with LSE and partners Equitix and Bouygues UK, after securing planning approval for the redevelopment of Bankside House into a 1,945-bed student residence, delivering affordable, high-quality accommodation in central London and helping ease pressure on the wider private rental market. 

The scheme, designed in collaboration with Carmody Groarke following a design competition win, replaces the mid-century office-turned-residence with three stepped towers of 24, 26 and 28 storeys. These towers are linked by two low-rise pavilions around generous, landscaped courtyards and extensive public realm integration. 

LSE has more than 12,000 full-time students, with around 60% currently living in private accommodation because of a shortage of LSE-managed rooms. Under its 2030 strategy, the School has committed to expanding its accommodation offer to 6,000 bed spaces and guaranteeing a place to every new first-year student. 

All rooms proposed at the Bankside redevelopment will be at sub-market rents, with 15% of bed spaces meeting the London Plan definition of Affordable Student Accommodation (capped at 55% of the maximum maintenance loan). 

Bankside Residences have also been designed to be a better neighbour. The scheme includes a publicly accessible Community Hub, Community Classroom, event spaces, an LSE-run café and public realm improvements designed to strengthen Bankside’s connection with Sumner Street and the Tate Modern. 

The all-electric scheme has been designed with a whole-life carbon approach and is targeting high environmental standards, including BREEAM Excellent and very low operational energy use. 

Construction is targeting more than 99% diversion of waste from landfill and at least 20% recycled or reused content by value, supported by circular-economy principles. Landscaped terraces and gardens at podium level provide social and biophilic amenity for residents, while contributing to climate resilience.

“We are delighted that Southwark Borough Council has granted planning approval for LSE’s Bankside House. Conceived as three distinct yet connected houses, the project will provide an important new home for the LSE student community while contributing a confident addition to London’s river skyline. At ground level, a series of pavilions open the site to the city, strengthening the public realm and creating a welcoming threshold between LSE, the Bankside and the wider urban context.

 "On a student scale, we wanted every room - both spatially and climatically - to be a genuinely good room, meeting Passivhaus standards and setting a new benchmark for sustainable design. We look forward to progressing the project in close collaboration with our partners, Bouygues UK, Equitix and LSE.” — Rupert Goddard, Partner at Sheppard Robson and Rowan Seaford, Director at Carmody Groarke