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Berkeley Group Holdings PLC said on Friday it has applied for a judicial review of the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to refuse planning permission for its proposed redevelopment of the Aylesham Centre in Peckham, southeast London. The Cobham, England-based housebuilder is seeking to overturn the Planning Inspectorate’s decision of May 18, when it dismissed Berkeley’s appeal against Southwark Council’s refusal of the scheme. The inspector concluded that the proposal’s ‘benefits do not outweigh the harm to the relevant designated heritage assets important to the area’. Following the decision, Southwark Council welcomed the ruling. Then-council leader Sarah King described it as ‘a great day for Peckham’, saying the authority had argued at the public inquiry that the scheme was poorly designed and that the inspector’s decision had vindicated its position. Berkeley said its proposal would deliver 867 homes, including private and affordable housing, alongside a new Morrisons supermarket. The scheme also included £15 million in Section 106 contributions and community infrastructure levy payments for Southwark Council. The developer said the project would have generated more than £13 million in additional annual local spending. Berkeley Chair Rob Perrins on Friday described the planning inspector’s decision as ‘clearly flawed’ and said it risked undermining the UK government’s housebuilding ambitions. ‘How can anyone invest in a town centre when policy-compliant plans for allocated sites are refused on the basis of vague and subjective heritage concerns?’ Perrins said. Berkeley argued the inspector failed to properly apply provisions of the national planning policy framework favouring sustainable development, did not adequately consider Southwark’s housing land supply shortfall and overlooked the jointly agreed design brief developed with Southwark Council. The company also said the proposal complied with the site’s allocation in the Southwark Plan, which envisages around 850 homes and buildings of up to 20 storeys. Berkeley said it had spent nine years engaging with Southwark Council and held six rounds of public consultation before submitting the scheme. It added that Historic England had raised no objections to the proposal. Shares in Berkeley were down 1.4% at 3,698.00 pence in London on Friday morning. Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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