London club Printworks to close after council approves redevelopment plan

Celebrated London club Printworks is set to close for good, after Southwark Council gave the green light to extensive redevelopment plans.

Its closure was first mooted last October when British Land – which owns the property – submitted a fresh proposal to redevelop the area and turn the club into new office space.

While the plans faced wide-ranging backlash from the music and nightclub industry, Southwark News now reports that the club will shut its doors for good later this year.

Councillors reportedly cited the success of the venue since its 2017 opening in their planning recommendation, but also noted that the former newspaper printing plant was only ever meant to be a temporary nightclub until a redevelopment plan materialised.

“It is noted that a significant number of objections have been received in respect of the loss of the club/music venue currently operating on the site. It is acknowledged that this use has been very successful,” they said.

“However, the events use was initiated as a short term interim (meanwhile) use in 2016 pending development of the building within the masterplan. It was never intended to be a permanent use of the site.”

It’s believed that the redevelopment will range from five to seven stories and feature a mix of retail and office units. It will form part of a “master plan” to redevelop the wider Canada Water area.

The closure is also a marked contrast to comments made by British Land last year, when they told the Southwark News that “culture will play an important role as part of a new urban centre at Canada Water”.

A closing date for Printworks is yet to be confirmed.