Planning news archive
General planning enquiries by phone
The Planning Division has recently moved its general enquiry call handling into the Lambeth Service Centre, our call centre. This should mean that you find it easier to get hold of us, however in the short term you could find that those answering your calls may not be as familiar with planning questions as you may expect so please be patient with us during this transition period.
If you do phone us and we are unable to answer your question there and then, our staff will offer to take a note of your enquiry and we will endeavour to get back to you before the end of the next working day.
The phone number for general planning enquiries remains 020 7926 1180.
If you have any experiences of the new service that you would like to share, please email Mr Toby Hamilton, Project Manager: thamilton@lambeth.gov.uk
Fees for major pre-appliation advice requests
From 2 January 2008 there will be a fee for all new requests for pre-application advice in respect of major development. The fee has been introduced after a successful trial period of the new formal service and applies only to major developments, e.g. proposed developments providing 10 or more new residential units, of more than 1000 sq.m. new commercial floorspace or those developments on larger sites.
Please consult our pre-application advice pages for further information and associated forms.
New conservation area designated
A new conservation area has recently been created in the borough. The new area was designated on the 13 December 2007 and will be known as the Herne Hill Conservation Area (reference number 61).
Consultation on Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)
This consultation has now closed.
OS Extracts for planning applications
The Town Planning Advice Centre is no longer able to provide OS Extracts as the licence arrangements have changed and it would be a breach of copyright if extracts were issued.
You can access OS Extracts from the following providers:
- National Map Centre
22-24 Caxton Street
London SW1H 0QU
Tel: 020 7222 2466
- Stanfords
12-14 Long Acre
London WC2E 9LP
Tel: 020 7836 1321
Results of the Planning Peer Review are now available
The findings of the recent Planning Peer review carried out by The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) have been published.
The review recognised the improvements in performance made over recent years, the commitment to public consultation and sustainable development. There was also praise for the council's resourcing of the service, site specific planning guidance and the service provided by the Town Planning Advice Centre.
The recommendations for improvement included the need to move forward with planning policy development, improvements to the operation of the Planning Application Committee and the customer experience of the service.
Award for Clapham Common bandstand
Dannatt Johnson Architects has been shortlisted for a RIBA Award for their recently completed restoration of Clapham Common bandstand. Our Conservation and Design team was closely involved in the painstaking restoration along with representatives of English Heritage and London Borough of Wandsworth. The bandstand, built in 1890, was comprehensively restored, after many years as an historic 'building at risk'.
The works included a complete repair of the original structure as well as a new zinc roof, decking, access ramp and decorative cast iron balustrade. This has not only restored the bandstand to its former architectural glory, but made it fully accessible so it can be used for a wide range of community events. The restoration project cost £1.1million from funding granted by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Lambeth Council and the Heritage of London Trust, and was supported by a major fundraising effort from the Clapham Society and the Friends of Clapham Common.
Business Premises Study
The council has published a study produced by consultants DTZ which looks at the current demand and supply of business premises in the borough. The study aims to deal with both economic development and planning issues around retaining and increasing business activity in the borough.
In overall terms the study has found that demand for business premises continues to be strong, but that growth in employment is constrained by the lack of available space.
For further information on the study please contact either Alan Vinall in Planning on 020 7926 1212 or Catherine Carpenter in Regeneration on 020 7926 2741.
Clapham Leisure Centre and Depot - draft Development Brief
The council produced a draft Development Brief for the Clapham Leisure Centre and Depot site. The closing date for sought comments on this draft by 19 June 2007.
Safeguarding Rush Common - consultation
Rush Common is a much valued and unique area located to the south of Brixton Town Centre. The Rush Common Act of Parliament in 1806 prevented building on certain areas of land. Today Rush Common comprises areas of open space, and commercial and residential properties set back from the road giving the whole area an open appearance.
Lambeth Council is committed to preserving and improving Rush Common land. To support this, the council has produced a Draft Policy and Guidance Note to promote the importance and value of this land and to provide guidance for works which require Rush Common Consent.
Before this guidance is finalised the council wants to hear the views of local residents, amenity groups, businesses and utility companies.
Deadline for comment was Tuesday 12 June 2007.
Further proposed modifications to the Unitary Development Plan (UDP)
Having considered the representations received on the proposed modifications it issued in October 2006, the council put proposed further modifications on deposit until 15 June 2007. It is anticipated that the council will adopt the replacement UDP in July 2007.
Please see our Unitary Development Plan pages for further information.
Draft Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)
The council has recently produced a draft statement of community involvement, which was approved by its Cabinet on 19 April 2007 for public consultation during May/June 2007. The deadline for comments is June/July 2007.
Interim guidance on sustainable development
Lambeth has introduced interim guidance on sustainable development. This has been approved by the council to enable implementation of the two policies in the Replacement UDP that deal with sustainable development: Renewable Energy in Major Developments (Policy 32a) and Sustainable Design and Construction (Policy 32b).
This guidance along with the Officer’s Delegated Report on Policies 32a and 32b are available to download from our Unitary Development Plan page.
Draft Conservation Area statement consultations
Lambeth Council prepared draft statements for the following Conservation Areas:
- Lower Marsh
- Mitre Road and Ufford Street
- Renfrew Road
- Roupell Street
- South Bank
- Waterloo.
The consultation period on these draft statements ran from 19 February until 18 March 2007.
Stockwell Park High School Draft Development Brief
The Stockwell Park High School Draft Development Brief Consultation Report is now available.
Amendments to the Draft Development Brief have also been made following a consultation exercise. These were approved by delegated authority on 1 November 2006.
A meeting of the full council will consider these amendments on 22 November 2006.
St Thomas's Hospital added to the Statutory List
On 5 October 2006 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport added St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road to the statutory list of buildings of architectural or historic interest. The Victorian parts of the complex are now grade II listed.
Considered to be one of the grandest and most lavish pavilion-hospitals in England, St Thomas's is a bold architectural set-piece. Dating from 1868-71, it was designed by Henry Currey and subsequently added to by his son Percival. Part of the complex was unfortunately destroyed during the Second World War but the remaining Victorian buildings, a series of pavilion blocks aligned West-East but linked to a common North-South spine building, are of architectural and historic interest.
Architecturally the buildings feature Renaissance motifs - loggias, cornices etc - along with French style roofs. The listing not only covers the general hospital wards but also the Governor's Hall, Chapel and associated accommodation. The buildings represent a watershed in healthcare design, influenced by Florence Nightingale.
Lambeth's Planning Division has recently completed the first phase of updating the Conservation and Urban Design web pages. General information is now available on a range of built heritage and design matters such as listed buildings, conservation areas, historic parks and gardens and urban design.
More detailed information will be added in due course, allowing access to detailed information on individual designations.
Evelina Children's Hospital wins award
Evelina Children's Hospital on Lambeth Palace Road has received a Civic Trust Award and has been shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize.
Press release on the proposed modifications to Lambeth's Unitary Development Plan (UDP).
Stockwell Park High School Draft Development Brief
The Draft Development Brief was approved for public consultation on 18 September 2006.
Public Consultation
Closing date for comments was 17 October 2006.
Summary
The council has approved the Draft Development Brief for Stockwell Park High School for the purpose of public consultation. The current buildings have a number of problems that cannot be easily put right, and the council has decided that it would be best to rebuild the school. This is being done as part of the Government's Building Schools for the Future Programme.
Rebuilding will provide better and more modern facilities and also enable the new school to provide additional places, up to 1,315. There will be 1,200 places for young people aged 11-16; fifteen places for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder special educational needs; and a 100 place sixth form.
Interim planning guidance
A) Section 106 Contributions to School Places
B) Section 106 Monitoring Fees and Professional Costs
Lambeth has introduced interim planning guidance to set out the s.106 contributions to school places that will be expected from developments with a net gain of ten or more housing units, and the monitoring fees that will be applied to s.106 agreements.
New requirements for planning applications
Since 10 August 2006 there has been a requirement for most types of planning applications to be accompanied by a Design and Access Statement. This requirement comes from the 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act.
A Design and Access Statement is a short report which accompanies and supports a planning application. It illustrates the process that has informed the development proposal and explains and justifies the proposal in a structured way.
More information on the new requirements can be found on our frequently asked questions page or in the new Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) document, Design and Access Statements: How to Write, Read and Use Them.
Planning service now in Vauxhall
On 14 November 2005 the Planning service relocated from Acre House in Brixton to new premises in Vauxhall. The full address is:
Phoenix House
10 Wandsworth Road
London SW8 2LL
Our telephone numbers and emails remain unchanged.
Unitary Development Plan (UDP)
The Inspector's Report on the objections to the replacement Lambeth UDP has been received and is now available. The council is now considering the recommendations made by the Inspector and will prepare proposed modifications for approval in June 2006, following local elections.
Find out more and view the Inspector's Report on our Unitary Development Plan page
Waterloo Development Framework
The draft Waterloo Development Framework has been published by the Mayor of London. This document will have an considerable impact on how Waterloo develops over the next 10 years and beyond.
Find out more and view the consultation documents on our Waterloo Development Framework page.
Myatts Field North Draft Development Plan
Consultation is currently being undertaken seeking local residents and stakeholders views and on the Myatts Field North Development planning guidelines. Please contact Clive Fraser 020 7926 1178 or Marian Girdler 020 7926 11925 for further details.
Related documents:
Kerrin Point Development Brief
Final brief approved July 2005
Summary: The council approved the Planning Brief for the Site of Kerrin Point and adjoining Land at its meeting on 6 July 2005.
Related documents:
Lilian Baylis Draft Development Brief
Draft brief approved for public consultation July 2005
Public consultation September/October 2005
Summary
The new state-of-the-art Lilian Baylis Technology School opened in 2005. It has already been praised as one of the most rapidly improving schools in England and is continuing to build on the strong reputation of Lambeth schools.
The relocation of the school to its new site means its former site on the Ethelred Estate is no longer required and is now available for alternative uses. Its sale will help fund the council's regeneration plans, including new leisure facilities and a Joint Service Centre in Kennington/North Lambeth.
At its meeting on 25 July 2005 the council's Executive approved a draft development brief to guide the future uses and development potential of the site of this former school, subject to public consultation.
Lambeth Council was keen to hear from local people on its future plans and consequently commissioned Indigo, an experienced independent consultancy, to consult with local residents on the draft development brief for the old school site produced by the council in 2005.
The Indigo consultation report has now been published and reveals a wide range of views, which are detailed in this report. The results of the consultation are available in full by clicking on the link below.
Copies are also available to view from Lambeth Walk Group Practice, Ethelred Nursery, the Ethelred Tenant Management Office, Sure Start Kennington, Spring Gardens Community Centre and the Neighbourhood Housing Offices.
What happens next?
This consultation signifies the first step towards a new future for the old Lilian Baylis site. This consultation report will be reported back to the council's Executive later in the Spring.
Once the development brief is finalised the site will be sold to generate much needed resources to fund the council's regeneration programme. The council is required to obtain the best value for the site. Any developments on the site would need to be sustainable and meet the needs of the local area. However, the council will ensure that the results of this consultation influence the development brief for the site.
Once a buyer is found, the planning process for the site will provide even more opportunities for residents and other stakeholders to make their views known.
Eric Bohl
Executive Director - Corporate Services
Related documents:
Clapham Park Draft Development Planning Guidelines
Draft guidelines approved for public consultation July 2005
Public consultation August/September 2005
Closing date for comments 17 September 2005
Summary
The council has approved draft Development Planning Guidelines for the Clapham Park Housing Estate for the purpose of public consultation. The development planning guidelines will guide major development proposals for around 62 hectares of the Clapham Park Estate area over a 10-year period.
Public consultation on the guidelines was carried out during August and September 2005. The draft guidelines apply UDP and other relevant policy, emphasising the need to serve local needs and apply principles of good urban design in accordance with Government guidance, by creating a high quality environment and good quality homes and facilities.
They set out a number of clear objectives:
- The creation of a new street network and definition of public and private space
- The creation of a distinct identity with a greater diversity of tenure and unit type
- Improved provision of public transport and appropriate parking provision.
- The provision of enhanced community facilities and employment opportunities
- The provision of enhanced open space and a high quality public realm
- The provision of appropriate scale and density
- The creation of a sustainable environment.
The guidelines will provide the framework against which an outline planning application due later this year will be considered. The regeneration proposals are due to be submitted by the Clapham Park (New Deal for Communities) Homes Project. They will include: demolishing around 1,000 existing properties; refurbishing around 1,000 residential units; building around 2,700 new residential units; and providing other facilities.
Related documents:
Mary Seacole House Draft Development Brief
Approved for public consultation July 2005
Public consultation August/September 2005
Closing date for comments 30 September 2005
Summary
The council has approved a draft development brief for Mary Seacole House in Clapham High Street. The nine storey office building that currently occupies the site is owned by the Council and is to be vacated later this year.
A development brief has been prepared based on the policies in the Lambeth Unitary Development Plan (UDP). The brief emphasises the need for a high quality of development with a flagship design. It promotes mixed development on the site involving a significant amount of employment uses and housing.
There is flexibility as to what form the employment uses could take. Within the framework provided by UDP policies the employment uses could include offices, retail, leisure and recreation, healthcare and other community uses and services. The development brief also states that between 40% and 50% of the housing should be affordable in line with UDP policy.
Another important consideration in the scale and nature of any future development is how it should fit in with the existing Clapham townscape. If the building is to be retained and re-used considerable improvements to its appearance will be required.
The council invited comments on the draft development brief until 30 September 2005.
Related documents: