Sea Containers House, Southwark

Client: The Deerbrook Group

Borough: London Borough of Southwark

Date: 2011 - 2016

Tags: Hotel, Mixed-Use, Planning, Community Engagement, Construction

Sea Containers is a large building on the Thames; it has the longest frontage on the river after The Houses of Parliament. It was designed in the 1970s as a hotel but never operated as one due to a lack of finance. It was converted into offices and stayed this way until 2011. Jessica led the consultation and public affairs work necessary to achieve planning permission for the change of use into a 359-bedroom hotel, new offices and restaurants in 2011.

Comm Comm UK led the community relations during a very complex and lengthy construction period and the planning hours application, which received no objections due to excellent ongoing community relations.

Jessica was also instrumental in putting together the team for the Jubilee wrap of the building, featuring a photo of the Royal Family taken for the Silver Jubilee in 2012 and gaining advertising planning consent for its installation.

Comm Comm UK administered and also ran the Upper Ground Monitoring Group, which brought together stakeholders from Sea Containers, One Blackfriars, South Bank Tower and the local community to discuss matters relating to construction of the projects.