HOUSING

 We are not opposed to redevelopment of the site. We want more affordable and accessible housing in this community. But it has to be proportionate to its setting and sustainable in the long term.

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. 

The Public Inquiry

With regards to the developers proposals on housing, Lambeth Planning authority (Lambeth) case at the public inquiry (commencing on 17 November 2020) will be focusing on the affordability of intermediate shared ownership of the homes and the inadequate residential unit size mix. Lambeth gave two indicative reasons for refusal for the developer's proposal:

1) Affordability of Intermediate Shared Ownership - The proposed development has failed to demonstrate that the provision of intermediate shared ownership in this location would be genuinely affordable to future tenant occupiers in accordance with the income thresholds in Lambeth’s Tenancy Strategy (2020). Accordingly, it would be contrary to Policy 3.10 of the London Plan (MALP 2016); Policies H4 and H6 of the Intend to Publish London Plan (December 2019); Policy H2 of the Lambeth Local Plan (2015) and Draft Revised Lambeth Local Plan Policy H2 (Submission Version January 2020). 

The evidence that Lambeth will be putting forward to the inquiry on this specific matter can be found here  in paragraphs 8.70 to 8.76

2) Inadequate Residential Unit Size Mix- The proposed development would provide a private market residential unit mix that disproportionately overprovides for smaller households with no family-sized accommodation. In addition, the lack of one bed sized units in the social rented element does not provide for the full range of affordable housing needs in the borough. This is inadequately justified and therefore does not comply with the objectives of ensuring mixed and balanced communities through a range of dwelling sizes to meet housing need, including family sized housing.

The main evidence that Lambeth will be putting forward to the inquiry on this matter can be found here with a summary here. The developers evidence to the inquiry on this matter can be found here and the full appendices to their evidence is listed below.

You can see Stop the Blocks Community Action Group's evidence submitted in advance for the public inquiry here.