Councillor Scott Ainslie, Lambeth's Cabinet Member for Property, Planning, Built Environment and Public Realm, faced questions regarding the council's policy on tall buildings during a recent cabinet meeting. The meeting saw the approval of the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (SADPD) with modifications, marking the culmination of several years of work and giving the plan full weight in decision-making.
Councillor Danny Adilipour raised concerns about Councillor Ainslie's previous opposition to certain proposals within the SADPD, specifically mentioning Liam Court Road, Carthark, and the Disused Public Toilet Sites. Adilipour questioned Ainslie's stance on tall buildings outside of designated clusters, noting that the SADPD influences policies to identify sites elsewhere in Lambeth that are judged as being appropriate for tall buildings if necessary conditions are met.
According to the SADPD, for tall buildings to be considered appropriate outside of designated clusters, they must meet the requirements of Local Plan Policy Q26A, achieve a high-quality public realm, and have acceptable effects on living conditions for neighbours, while also maximising public benefits. The density of new development should be optimised, and a design-led approach taken. Specific height restrictions are outlined for certain sites: a maximum of 60m (64m AOD) on the site of Becket House, 27m (31m AOD Max) within strategic view 27B, and 46m (50m AOD) on the sites of Stangate House and Canterbury House (Site 1, Royal Street). For Site 18 (Norwood Road), tall buildings are only considered appropriate if they come forward together in sufficient quantity to achieve specific requirements, with a maximum height of 31m above ground level indicated for a grouping of tall buildings in the central part of the site.
Councillor Bryn Scott echoed concerns about a perceived disconnect between the SADPD document and Councillor Ainslie's public statements, particularly regarding tall buildings outside of clusters. Scott questioned whether Ainslie was now in favour of 12 to 13-storey buildings outside of clusters, and if he now considered them not tall. The SADPD defines 'tall buildings' in the context of Site 1 (Royal Street) as being above 45 metres in height. For Site 18 (Norwood Road), tall buildings are defined as above 25 metres. Councillor Bryn Scott also mentioned that a tall building is defined as over 45 metres, which is about 13 to 14 storeys, in relation to Site 20 (Tesco, Acre Lane).
Councillor Ainslie responded by clarifying that planning applications were voted against for various reasons, often not solely due to the level of social housing, but also due to 'bulk, height, scale, and massing overbearing on communities, plunging social housing, council housing into absolute darkness'. He specifically mentioned concerns about 'undervaluation of land and the potential for more social housing' regarding Liam Court Road. He also stated that 'often there was a lot of times when the community was never really listened to'.
He stated that the administration is determined to respond positively to 'community-led developments' and that decisions on tall buildings would be for the community to decide. Mechanisms for ensuring genuine community input were not detailed, but the emphasis on community-led developments suggests a move towards greater resident involvement.
Councillor Ainslie reiterated the commitment to building social rented and council homes, stating, 'We are determined as a new administration to build social homes, social rents, council homes, proudly council homes. That's where I'm from. I'm proud to have been brought up in a council estate and I want more people to have those secure tenancies.'
The Inspector's Report on the Examination of the SADPD, dated 3 March 2026, concludes that the document 'provides an appropriate basis for the planning of Lambeth, provided that a number of Main Modifications (MMs) are made to it.' The report recommends that Cabinet recommend to Full Council that the SADPD be adopted.