25/01611/FUL
250 Kennington Lane London SE11 5RD
Demolition of the existing buildings; erection of a ground plus 7 storey building for use as purpose built student accommodation (Sui Generis) with bedrooms on upper floors and ancillary uses including a food and beverage use (Class E) at ground floor and a flexible venue space (Sui Generis) at basement level with cycle parking and landscaping and all necessary associated enabling works. (This application is a departure from the Development Plan: Policy ED1 of Lambeth Local Plan 2021)
The proposal would result in the loss of existing office floorspace without sufficient evidence that the premises have been vacant and marketed for two years, as required by Policy ED1(C)(i) of the Lambeth Local Plan (2021). In the absence of this evidence, the loss of employment floorspace is unjustified and harmful to the borough's employment capacity, contrary to Policy ED1 and London Plan Policy E1. Furthermore, as the scheme provides PBSA with only limited ancillary uses and is therefore not genuinely mixed use, and the loss of employment floorspace is not justified, the proposal fails to maintain an appropriate mix and balance of uses as required by Policies H7(A)(i) and (ii) of the Lambeth Local Plan (2021). The proposal would consequently harm the social and economic vitality of the area. Accordingly, the development is contrary to Policies ED1 and H7 of the Lambeth Local Plan (2021) and Policy E1 of the London Plan (2021).