Lambeth Council's Planning Applications Committee is considering a proposal to construct new student flats in the Kennington industrial area. The application, concerning the site at 36-46 Albert Embankment, involves the demolition of a petrol station and the erection of two linked towers for student accommodation, along with a cafe, flexible incubator space, and the refurbishment of Vintage House.

![Photograph of Vintage House, 36-46 Albert Embankment, London, which is scheduled for redevelopment.](https://opencouncil.network/rails/activestorage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBMlpMQXc9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--8ebcf86162cd3ad42cead151f25912143303cb56/page10Picture_0.jpeg Photograph of Vintage House, 36-46 Albert Embankment, London, which is scheduled for redevelopment.

The proposed development aims to provide 769 student rooms, accommodating 897 beds. It also includes a cafe and flexible incubator/cultural space, as well as the refurbishment of Vintage House for office use. The development plans include 640 bicycle parking spaces.

While the application initially proposed 35% affordable student accommodation, this was revised to 20% with an £8.02 million payment in lieu (PiL) to support conventional affordable housing in Lambeth. The specific location of this housing is not detailed in the provided text.

The Planning Applications Committee met on Tuesday 1 July 2025 to discuss the application, among others. The agenda for the meeting indicates that the committee was to consider the application, referenced as 24/04003/FUL, and consider officer recommendations to grant conditional planning permission. These recommendations include:

  • Granting conditional planning permission subject to the completion of an agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, containing the planning obligations as set out in the report, addendums and/or PAC minutes, and any direction as may be received following further referral to the Mayor of London.
  • Delegating authority to the Director of Climate Change, Planning and Transport to finalise the recommended conditions and negotiate the planning obligations.
  • Granting delegated authority to the Director of Climate Change, Planning and Transport to propose planning conditions and negotiate obligations if the Committee resolves to refuse planning permission and there is a subsequent appeal.
  • Granting delegated authority to the Director of Climate Change, Planning and Transport to refuse planning permission if the Section 106 Agreement is not completed within six months of the date of the Committee meeting.

The public reports pack details the concerns raised by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Historic England regarding potential harm to the Westminster World Heritage Site due to the development's scale. The GLA officers consider that the development would cause a very low level of less than substantial harm, differing from their assessment of the extant permission where they considered that the scheme would cause no harm. However, the applicant is aiming for Passivhaus certification and a BREEAM rating of Outstanding for the student accommodation.

![Architectural rendering of the proposed redevelopment at 36-46 Albert Embankment.](https://opencouncil.network/rails/activestorage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBMnhMQXc9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--4c454fa8745b2176fd4c3e7f01285e427485c37b/page13Picture_0.jpeg Architectural rendering of the proposed redevelopment at 36-46 Albert Embankment.

The committee was scheduled to hear from Councillors Joanne Simpson, Malcolm Clark, Scott Ainslie, Martin Bailey, Diogo Costa, Saleha Jaffer and Emma Nye.

The Planning Applications Committee also approved minutes from previous meetings. The PAC Minutes 6 May 2025 show that the committee granted conditional planning permission for development at Brockwell Park. The PAC Minutes 03 June 2025 show that the committee granted conditional planning permission for development at Myatt's Fields Park and Land Rear Of 148 Leigham Court Road.