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A 26-storey South London student tower has been approved despite a councillor’s fears that bedrooms like “rabbit hutches” are damaging young people’s mental health. The building in Deptford was waved through by a Lewisham Council planning committee on October 12 after a three and a half hour meeting. The site on Surrey Canal Road is currently home to scrap metal dealer Southwark Metals Ltd, which is relocating to Thamesmead. Under the plans the existing buildings on the site will be demolished and replaced with a 484-room student block, 42 flats, shops and studio space. During the meeting, Councillor James-J Walsh, a member of the planning committee, said he had concerns about the amount of space for students to hang out in the building. Cllr Walsh, Labour member for Rushey Green, told the council’s planning team: "There's a massive mental health crisis amongst young people. Them being kept in rabbit hutches as their bedroom and study space is exacerbating that problem....