Lambeth Council has approved its Lambeth Growth Plan, a 10-year strategy for inclusive and sustainable economic development, despite criticism from Green Party councillor Scott Ainslie.
The Lambeth Growth Plan, aligning with the London Growth Plan and national missions, aims to foster inclusive growth within the borough, ensuring all residents can contribute to and benefit from it. Councillor Claire Holland, Leader of the Council, introduced the plan, emphasising its focus on inclusive growth, innovation, and opportunities for young people.
And our growth plan is aligning with the London Growth Plan and the national missions. And core to it is how we bring about or continue to bring about and develop inclusive growth within our borough to ensure that everyone in our borough can contribute to and benefit from that growth.
The plan is based on the council's existing work program and does not require new borrowing. It is anticipated that the strategy will enhance the council's success in bringing in grant income from the government and mayoral level, as well as through development income over time.
To support the Lambeth Growth Plan, the council will develop several enabling strategies, including a new creative economy strategy, a skills and employment strategy (or inclusive talent strategy), and a nighttime economy strategy. These are expected to be presented to the cabinet in the autumn.
The plan outlines four key missions:
- Commercial destinations, town centres and infrastructure: Aims for world-class business destinations and thriving town centres, experiencing a 10% uplift in commercial workspace, and higher quality clean, green and connected places.
- Growth sectors: Focuses on stimulating investment in the creative industries, health and life sciences, and clean tech, to generate 20,000 more jobs and a more accessible, innovative and modern economy. The council is working with health partners through the SC1 London partnership to grow the health and life science economy, building on the existing Elevate programme.
- Inclusive talent: Aims to invest in education and skills for 20,000 residents, supporting people into work, and halving the number of people without a qualification working with our strategic partners.
- Housing and neighbourhoods: Focuses on enabling 10,000 new homes in the next 10 years, securing as many genuinely affordable homes as possible, creating high quality, healthy and sustainable neighbourhoods for local communities. The New Homes Programme aims to deliver 40% of all housing created on council land at affordable levels. The council will also work with private sector partners and Registered Providers to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes.
Councillor Scott Ainslie criticised the plan, arguing that some highlighted projects have been ongoing for over 20 years and that the plan focuses on market housing rather than social homes. He also claimed the plan does not adequately involve residents or address carbon emissions.
Councillor Matthew Bryan called for more detail on addressing the needs of young people leaving education without qualifications and expressed concern about a bias towards the northern end of Lambeth in the plan's case studies.
Officers Nabil Khan and Matthew Blades clarified that the plan is an umbrella strategy, with enabling strategies to be developed further. They also stated that there are no new financial implications arising from the report and that the council will work with stakeholders to bring forward investment.
Councillor Marcia Cameron, Cabinet Member for Economic Inclusion, highlighted the importance of skills and employment as key drivers of growth and the council's engagement with residents through employment skills and advice services.
Councillor Ben Kind criticised the Green Party's record on blocking progress in other areas, while Councillor Fred Cowell questioned whether the council's policy in relation to KIBAs (Key Industrial Business Areas) and affordable workspaces is in line with current market trends. The council will be looking at its KIBAs as part of its local plan, to see how they can be strengthened further. They are aware of the demand for light industrial manufacturing space and will work with businesses to understand their demand requirements to inform policy approaches as part of the local review.
Councillor Donatus Anyanwu praised the plan's focus on the creative industry, digital, and arts and culture. Councillor Nanda Manley-Browne welcomed the plan's focus on equity and justice, including actions to improve broadband and digital inclusion. Councillor David Bridson welcomed the plan and highlighted the opportunities enabled by the new Labour government.
The cabinet also noted the proposed approach to communication surrounding the Lambeth Growth Plan.