Work on the redevelopment of the Dockland Settlement complex on Rotherhithe Street will begin “imminently” and is due for completion by the end of 2013, says Southwark Council.

The scheme includes 28 homes with five to be for social rent and four will have shared ownership status. The development will include new community and sports facilities.

“We are very pleased to be able to welcome a new sports facility in Southwark  in this Olympic year,” said Cllr Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture, leisure, sport and the Olympics.

“We look forward to delivering an exciting and inclusive sports and leisure programme together with the Dockland Settlements charity.”

Cllr Peter John, leader of the council, added: “Regeneration is about more than just building new homes, it’s about meeting the needs of the local community and enhancing local facilities.

“The new sports facility and the additional affordable housing stock will do that by creating new employment opportunities and getting young people involved in exciting sports programmes.”

The Dockland Settlements were established in the 19th century to improve welfare and recreation for the youth of dock areas.  There are three Dockland Settlement centres at Stratford, the Isle of Dogs and Rotherhithe.

Dockland Settlements chief executive Lorraine Cavanagh said: “We have been working with local residents for the past two years and have now reached a point where a programme of activities can be put together in readiness for the opening.

“Dockland Settlement will continue to work to improve the quality of lives for local people through various programmes and partnerships and I welcome groups who would like to be part of this programme to still get in touch.”

Southwark planning officers have granted planning and listed building consent to Hollybrook Homes for the conversion of the former Bermondsey Borough Council municipal offices in Spa Road into 41 homes.

The municipal offices were built in the late 1920s as an extension to the adjacent Bermondsey town hall. When the town hall was bombed, 19 Spa Road became the home of Bermondsey Borough Council until the metropolitan borough gave way to the London Borough of Southwark  in the mid-1960s.

The building stands on the site of the old Bermondsey Baths and it seems Hollybrook intends to call the scheme “Bath House Lofts” in recognition of this history.

“Barratt have contacted Royal Mail regarding a new postbox on Surrey Quays Road. The Collections Office Manager has confirmed that there are already adequate posting facilities within the area so no more postboxes will be considered in the area.”

Following this week’s news that Daily Mail and General Trust is planning to sell its interest in the Harmsworth Quays print works site to British Land, Southwark Council – which owns the freehold to much of the site – has said that it wants to acquire DMGT’s interest in the land “with a view to delivering a mixed use scheme with a significant element of employment and commercial uses”.

“Southwark Council,  as freeholder of the majority of the site, has held discussions with both parties during which it has been made clear that for the foreseeable future the council does not intend to sell its freehold,” said a council spokeswoman on Friday.

Cllr Peter John, leader of the council, said: “Harmsworth Quays is of strategic importance for the regeneration of Canada Water.

“Following the announcement by the Daily Mail of their intention to vacate the site, the council is about to begin a programme of public consultation on its future.

“This work will inform the review of the Canada Water Area Action Plan, the principal planning policy document for the area.

“Until this work is significantly more advanced the council feels that it would be premature to consider disposal of the site.”

However, this claim stands at odds with the council’s own annual plan, agreed by cabinet earlier this month, which includes “develop strategy for the disposal of the council’s freehold of Harmsworth Quays” as a target for the cabinet member for regeneration in the year 2012/13.

British Land is to buy the Daily Mail print works at Harmsworth Quays.

The company will buy Daily Mail & General Trusts’s part  leasehold part freehold interest in the 14.57 acre site.

British Land is no stranger to Canada Water from its joint venture with Southwark Council and its share in  Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.

British Land will take possession of the site in late 2013 following the relocation of DMGT’s printing operations from Harmsworth Quays to Thurrock.

“The purchase of this large site adjoining our existing ownerships re-enforces our confidence in the area and demonstrates our continued commitment to the wider Canada Water regeneration and Rotherhithe,” says development director Mike Rayner.

“We look forward to working together with the London Borough of Southwark and the local community to realise the full potential of this site.”

DMGT’s David Dutton said: “Canada Water has been a really good location for our printing works, it has been changes in technology that have led to the relocation out of the area and I am sure British Land will deliver a really first class scheme on the site which will benefit the local community.”

The freehold of part of the site is held by Southwark Council which is expected to sell its interest in the land.