We're only just beginning to see the major changes that will be coming in the North Lambeth area over the coming years and the latest scheme to go to the Council in search of planning permission is a whopper. Local residents looking to a future that supports cycling and walking in a pleasant environment should get involved, checking the overall proposal and the details within.
Local civic groups such as the Kennington Association, Vauxhall Society and Lambeth Cyclists make a real difference here, as do individuals making their own considered representations. If you haven't taken an interest in local issues previously then now would be an excellent time to get involved .
Here's the developer's press release about their plans at Vauxhall (image above from a recent presentation):
CLS Holdings plc, a pan-European property company headquartered in Vauxhall, announces that yesterday it submitted a detailed planning application for a 154,000 sq m (1,657,650 sq ft) mixed-use development scheme in Vauxhall, London SW8, following a series of stakeholder consultations.
The proposed Vauxhall Square redevelopment is located close to Vauxhall’s transport interchange and comprises: two residential towers of approximately 50 stories containing 510 homes and 15,231 sq m (163,945 sq ft) of office space; 3,500 sq m (37,660 sq ft) of retail, restaurant and café space; 416 student units; a 438 bed hotel; a 4 screen cinema; 94 affordable housing units; a new homeless hostel; a major new public square (of similar size to Paternoster Square in the City of London); and public realm improvements.
Vauxhall Square is at the heart of the Vauxhall Nine Elms regeneration area between the Vauxhall transport links and the proposed new US Embassy.
Subject to receiving planning consent, CLS would aim to start on site in 2014, with phases being completed from 2017 onwards. The development cost of the proposed scheme is in excess of £400 million.
Richard Tice, Chief Executive Officer of CLS Holdings plc, commented:
“This substantial mixed-use scheme is a key element to the Vauxhall Nine Elms regeneration plans. It will create a new vibrant heart for Vauxhall and over 1,000 additional full-time jobs across a broad range of skills, both during and after construction. The investment of over £400 million will bring substantial benefits to a wide range of stakeholders and is not dependent on the Northern Line extension.”
I certainly hope that any S106 'planning gain' money from this development goes towards the removal of the Vauxhall Gyratory rather than being put into the incredibly expensive hole in the ground that is the Northern Line extension - let Wandsworth's developments pay for that.