Stop The Blocks Community Action Group

bACKGROUND

Anthology (now called the Lifestory Group) submitted a planning application to build a 258 unit development including a 29 storey tower block in a low rise residential area of Kennington.

Their tower block was expected to be 98.25m (322 ft) tall. For comparisons , Big Ben is 96m tall (315 feet).

The overbearing scale of this massive development was not appropriate for a small constrained site in an urban low-rise area. If this tower block was given the go ahead it could have given the green light to similar schemes all over Kennington and will radically change Kennington, Lambeth and Vauxhall neighbourhoods for generations.

Stop the Blocks Community Action Group comprises of concerned local residents, groups and associations who want the area to continue to grow and thrive, but we are seeking a more proportionate and sustainable development for all Londoners.

We want a lower density development that would protect the significance of the listed buildings, Conservation Areas and respect the prevailing building heights, density and massing of the surrounding residential properties.

3D View of the Proposed 29-storey tower block and 4 storey mansion block

The "Kennington STAGE" SCHEME

In July 2019 the developer (Anthology/Lifestory Group) submitted proposals to build a 258-unit development including a 29-storey tower block on the former Woodlands Nursing home site (off Dugard Way in Kennington). If this scheme went ahead, you will see more blocks being built in the area bordered by Kennington Lane, Kennington Road and St Georges Road.

The 29 storey tower was expected to be 98.25m (322 ft) tall. For comparisons , Big Ben is 96m tall (315 feet).

In March 2020, the developer demanded a public inquiry to determine their planning application which was completed over ten days from November to December 2020. Two of the key pillars to the proposals were planning and design.

1) Planning

The developer submitted a number of documents to support the planning matters relevant to their proposal and the appeal at the public inquiry, you can find the main document here and the appendices are below. For the public inquiry:

Lambeth's main evidence on the planning matters can be found here and there is a summary here.
Evidence on planning matters on behalf of Stop the Blocks Community Action Group can be found here.

2)Design

Anthology/Lifestory Group developed brochures for the public inquiry to showcase their development plans. Please note that due to the large size of these particular brochures we have had to host the files externally. You cannot view the files on your device without downloading these files onto your computer. The information available includes:

A brochure developed specifically for the public inquiry which can be downloaded here.
Details on the context, key design principles and detailed descriptions of the proposals that will be put forward to the public inquiry which can be downloaded here

You can see a summary and more details of the planning application with Lambeth Planning here.

Public Inquiry

Anthology/Lifestory Group (The developer and appellant)

Anthology/Lifestory Group submitted an appeal to the planning inspectorate on 13 March 2020 to have a public inquiry in order to secure permission for their proposed development scheme for the former Woodlands nursing home site.

Anthology/Lifestory Group submitted over fifty documents to achieve that aim. Unfortunately, due to the size and complexity of those files we are unable to host them on our website. However, Lambeth Planning Authority hosted the core documents in an online library which can be found here

Lambeth Planning Authority (Lambeth)

Lambeth produced nine documents which were either main proofs of their evidence for the inquiry, a summary of that evidence and a supporting document containing diagrams/figures.

You can see:

The main evidence regarding the planning issues here and there is a summary of that evidence here
Lambeth's concerns regarding the unit size (i.e.one bed, two bed and lack of three bed accommodation) here and there is a summary of that evidence here.
The proof of evidence with regards to Lambeth's concerns on design, townscape impact, effect on heritage assets (including listed buildings conservation areas), protected views, poor quality communal and play space amenity can be found here, with a summary here. There are also some interesting diagrams and figures which illustrate the potential visual impact of the proposed scheme which can be viewed here.
Finally, Lambeth has submitted proofs of evidence in relation to the potential adverse impact on existing residential homes in terms of loss of daylight to rooms and sunlight into gardens. They have also raised concerns regarding the inadequate amenity of the scheme for future occupiers of the development. You can see the main information here and a summary is available here.

Please note that the documents mentioned above are also hosted on Lambeth's planning portal here. Even though these documents on the portal are noted as "redacted" Lambeth has advised us that there are no differences in the versions of those documents you are accessing here and those hosted by Lambeth.

Stop the Blocks Community Action Group (StB)

Stop the Blocks Community Action Group also commissioned a review of the proposed scheme with the view to putting forward a proof of evidence of the issues on behalf of the group, you can view that information here.

Disclaimer

Please note Stop the Blocks Community Action Group takes no responsibility for the contents or accuracy of planning documents or photo images produced by other organisations. We recommend that in the first instance you go to the planning applications database here to find the latest version submitted by the planning applicant and Lambeth Planning.