Planning Application Submitted for 30-60 South Lambeth Road

Following extensive consultation, we have submitted our planning application to Lambeth Borough Council for a mixed-use development on 30-60 South Lambeth Road. Our plans for student accommodation with a swimming pool and leisure centre, if approved, would be a vital boost to the local economy, as well as provide a much-needed amenity for the area.

Following consultation with the public, we announced plans on 30 September to examine the possibility of extending the size of our proposed swimming pool from 20 metres to 25 metres and are pleased to announce that our planning application contains proposals for this. The majority of the pool is now 25 metres in length over three swimming lanes, which are 6 metres in width. The remaining 2.5 metre wide section of the pool will be an 18 metre long ‘free swimming’ area suitable for families.

We are currently consulting with LB Lambeth and Sport England on how these facilities will be made available to local residents and it is proposed that the terms of the access arrangements will be agreed via a Community Use Agreement that will stipulate dedicated times of access and entrance charges for the local community.

The plans include:

• An elegant building of 32 storeys;
• Accommodation for approximately 572 students;
• Swimming pool – the majority of which is now 25 metres in length;
• Leisure facility;
• Glazed frontage to South Lambeth Road from the leisure facility creating an active street scene;
• A significant amount of internal and external amenity space for students – including a roof terrace;
• Secure on-site bike storage;
• Landscaped public amenity space along South Lambeth Road;
• Greener energy – including a Combined Heat and Power system and solar panels.

Following consultation with local residents, Lambeth Council, CABE and the Greater London Authority, the proposed cladding has been changed to a terracotta material, to reflect the tone and texture of the buildings in the neighbouring conservation area.

We hope to achieve planning consent in 2012, following which construction will begin immediately with an intended opening date in summer 2014. We will continue to keep you updated as the plans progress via this blog. Consultation with local people, stakeholders and businesses will also continue to ensure we deliver the best possible scheme for Vauxhall.

Downing seek to incorporate resident’s views

We have been delighted with the response received from local residents to our proposals for 30-60 South Lambeth Road.  The overwhelming majority of people who returned feedback were supportive of our scheme.  All residents supported the provision of a swimming pool in the proposed leisure centre, an amenity sorely lacking in the local area.

Many residents stated to the development team, both during the public exhibition and afterwards, the desire for a 25 metre swimming pool instead of the 20 metre one originally proposed. 

These comments have been taken on board and following additional consultation with Sport England and continued liaison with Lambeth Sports and Recreation Service, we are now currently looking into the possibility of increasing a section of the proposed swimming pool to 25 metres.  Subject to confirmation of the structural engineering design parameters of the building, we are hopeful that this can be delivered to ensure the swimming pool will be of the greatest benefit to local residents and swimming groups.

Downing is committed to continued consultation with local residents in order that we deliver a scheme that is beneficial to the local community and leaves a lasting legacy for the future of Vauxhall.

Downing's public exhibition

Downing would like to thank everyone who attended our public exhibition on 8 and 10 September at the Vauxhall Christian Centre. We were delighted that over sixty people came to see our proposals for a mixed-use development comprising student housing and leisure centre with swimming pool on 30-60 South Lambeth Road. At the exhibition we received a number of feedback forms, which will be analysed and, where possible, incorporated into our detailed planning application, scheduled for submission this autumn.

Many local residents welcomed Downing’s plans for a new swimming pool. This amenity is a much-needed facility in the local area and it will be open for local residents to use. Visitors also approved of the plans for a development that will not only benefit local people and businesses but also transform a derelict and under-used waste ground site.

Downing is delighted that the local population has responded positively to our proposals to the area. We believe that our proposals will benefit the area, not only through the provision of a much needed amenity, but also through the increase in trade for local businesses.

All the respondents stated that they were supportive of:

- A car free development

- Cycle storage provision

- Boris Bike stand provision

- The on-site amenity space for the students.

We are still committed to consultation with local residents, and we urge anyone who was unable to visit the public exhibition, to view our proposals in detail which can be downloaded at the bottom of the page, and let us know your thoughts through the email address.

We are also interested to know what local people would like the development to be called and we are asking local residents to suggest names for the development. The name can be anything, such as a reflection of the local area’s long history, cultural diversity or geography.

People can continue to give feedback via our email address Vauxhall@downing.com or through our telephone line on 0207 323 3544.

Downing's proposals announced

Downing is delighted to announce the release of further details on our exciting draft proposals for 30 – 60 South Lambeth Road at the opening of our public exhibition today (Thursday 8 September).  We hope that as many people as possible come along to the exhibition, which is being held from 4pm – 8pm today and on Saturday 10 September from 11am – 4pm in the Vauxhall Christian Centre, 105 Tyers Street.  Members of the development team will be on hand to discuss the scheme and you will be able to formally record your feedback.  This will all be taken into consideration in advance of submission of a planning application to Lambeth Council this autumn.

At the exhibition, images of the scheme proposed will be available, along with information on design, the student accommodation and leisure facilities proposed, energy efficiency, transport and how the scheme will fit into its local surroundings. 

We recognise that many people interested in the proposals may not be able to attend our public exhibition.  As part of our commitment to a thorough pre-application consultation with local residents, you can view and download the information that will be on display at the exhibition at the bottom of this blog.  Should you wish to discuss any of the details in the proposals, or provide us with feedback, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0207 323 3544 or via at email vauxhall@downing.com. You can also write to us at:

c/o 7 Bayley Street

London WC1B 3HB

We look forward to hearing your views on our draft plans

Downing's plans for Vauxhall

Downing would like to welcome you to its blog on plans for South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall.  This blog will provide updates and news on the proposed planning application for a mixed-use development including student accommodation at 30-60 South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall. 

The Student Housing and Leisure Centre would be operated by Downing and built to the highest specification, for approximately 580 higher education students. 

The proposals have a strong community offer with a 20m by 9m swimming pool and leisure centre. Both will be available for local residents to use.  The swimming pool area and leisure centre will be visible from South Lambeth Road, creating an animated street-scene.  The scheme will revitalise the area and enable the site, which is currently waste ground used for car storage, to realise its full potential. 

Downing’s proposals will give a boost to the local economy, creating jobs both during the construction process and when the building is open.  Local shops are also very likely to benefit from an increase in trade.

Downing is a mixed use developer who has designed, constructed and operated over 4,500 student bedrooms.  They are currently on site with a further 1,400 rooms in Newcastle and Leeds.  Their award winning scheme Broadcasting Tower at Leeds, was designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, the Architect designing the South Lambeth Road proposals.  They have also constructed and delivered 250,000 sq ft of educational teaching space for Leeds Met University and Newcastle University Business School.  In addition, they own and operate over 1,000,000 sq ft of commercial office space.

Downing is committed to listening to the views of local residents, and we encourage people to come to the public exhibition at the Vauxhall Christian Centre, 105 Tyers Street on Thursday 8 September, 4pm – 8pm, and Saturday 10 September, 11am – 4pm. You will be able to see the proposals first hand and meet Downing’s development team to discuss the plans.  Copies of the information on display will also be available on this blog.  Feedback forms will also be available for visitors to record their comments.  Where possible, feedback will be incorporated into the plans prior to submission of the planning application. 

Please keep checking here for updates on the proposals, call 0207 323 3544 or email vauxhall@downing.com for more details.



Site plan of 30 - 60 South Lambeth Road