Overview and Current Situation
The current condition of SouthBank House reflects the urgency of this development. Over the past century the buildings have progressively deteriorated. They have always been hostel style accommodation and in their current state can only cater for the most hardy and economically challenged. Even tenanted, the cost of ongoing maintenance makes it impossible to adeqately maintain the structures.The properties are currently owned by the Underwood Family Trust and the trustees are keen to restore the properties to their former charm however they need the result to be economically viable and sustainable for the future.
This is entirely what this project is about.
In addition, the Trustees wish to make this redevelopment as ecologically sustainable as possible.
Specifically, minimal cars (only limited parking for tenants with cars and service vehicles) - focus on bikes and public transport, power saving eco materials (ecoblock - see eco-block link), solar water and as much as practical solar power, rain water tanks.