WELCOME

Lambeth Planning Authority has published documents (all included below) which sets out why they were likely to refuse the Lifestory/Anthology planning scheme for the former Woodlands Nursing home site. These documents also indicate how they will challenge the developer's appeal at a public inquiry (provisionally scheduled to take place from 17 November 2020 and to last 7 days). 

For your convenience the five key documents are accessible below. If you are in rush we recommend you look at pages 2 to 5 of the case officer's report which gives the 13 indicative reasons for a refusal.

On 24 July 2019, Lambeth Planning received an application for the redevelopment of the Woodlands nursing home site which included:

• Demolition of the former care home; 
• The erection of 29 storeys building and peripheral lower development of 3/4 storeys, 
• To provide 258 residential units, together with servicing, disabled parking, cycle parking, landscaping, new public realm, a new vehicular and pedestrian access, and associated works

March 2020

An appeal against non-determination by Lambeth Planning was submitted by the developer in March 2020. The appeal (ref. APP/N5660/W/20/3248960) is currently listed to be dealt with by way of Public Inquiry which has been scheduled to take place on the 17th November 2020.

June 2020

In circumstances where there is an appeal against non-determination, the local planning authority loses the power to determine the application. 

Lambeth Planning has published a report which sets out the local planning authority’s assessment of the planning application and its recommendations had it still been empowered to determine the application.  

The reports highlights that had the local planning authority been empowered to determine the application, planning permission would have been refused. Those grounds for refusal informs the local planning authority's position on the appeal. The report also says that in light of the report and its reasons for refusal, "conditions and planning obligations be negotiated during the course of the appeal in order to meet the requirements of the planning inspector."

The report and its recommendations provide the basis on which the local planning authority will support its case at the appeal. 

Indicative reasons for Refusal

These are the headline summaries of the reasons for refusal, from Lambeth Planning Authority's delegated case officer report (published 25 June 2020). A summary of these reasons are in pages 2-5 of the case officers report. There is also more detail within that report.

1.Inadequate Affordable Housing Tenure Mix

2.Affordability of Intermediate Shared Ownership

3.Inadequate Residential Unit Size Mix

4.Inappropriate Design and Unacceptable Impact on Townscape

5.Unjustified harmful impacts on the setting of heritage assets and insufficient public benefits

6. Adverse Impact on Existing Residential Amenities (Daylight Effects to Habitable Rooms and Sunlight Amenity Effects to Gardens)

7. Inadequate Residential Amenity For Future Occupiers Of Development

8. Poor Quality Communal and Playspace Amenity

9. Flood Risk Safety

10. Inadequate Residential Cycle Parking Design

11.Failure to Maximise Renewable Energy Opportunities

12.Planning Obligations

13. Inadequate Information

WHAT'S NEXT

Should this matter go to a public inquiry it has been scheduled to take place from 17 November 2020. We will keep you updated.