The Planning Committee (Major Applications) A of Southwark Council met on Tuesday 17 March 2026 to discuss several key planning applications. The committee approved the release of over £7.3 million in Section 106 funds for various community projects, including LGBTQ+ spaces, pensioner centres, and school improvements. They also approved a Local Listed Building Consent Order to facilitate the installation of solar panels on listed residential properties in the Sutherland Square and Liverpool Grove Conservation Areas.

Release of Section 106 Funds

The committee approved the release of £7,348,778.62 from Section 106 agreements for a series of key projects across the borough. These funds will be allocated to:

• LGBTQ+ community space: £791,522.71 for the Chroma project, a priority for the Council's Delivery Plan 2022-26, which aims to provide affordable workspace and a theatre for the LGBTQ+ community.
• Southwark Pensioners Centre: £152,654.88 towards the refurbishment and fit-out of a new centre on Camberwell Road, providing community spaces and ancillary facilities.
• Brunel Museum: £114,756.10 to support tourism initiatives and refurbishment efforts at this Rotherhithe ward asset.
• Elephant and Castle Rail Station: £1,056,230.90 towards improvements to re-establish the area as a major town centre and transport hub.
• Harold Moody Health Centre: £1,328,042.14 for the fit-out of a strategic health hub on Thurlow Street, which will house two GP practices and a borough-wide midwifery service.
• Peckham Square: £1,607,001.45 for public realm improvements to transform the area adjacent to Peckham Library and Peckham Pulse.
• Bessemer Grange, Rye Oak and Crampton Schools: £1,795,532.36 for essential works, including new roofs.
• Friars School: £293,631.76 for improvements.
• Tower Bridge and Snowsfields School: £209,406.32 for improvements.

These allocations align with the Council's Southwark 2030 principles, the Social Value Framework 2030, the Southwark Economic Strategy 2023-2030, and the Southwark's Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2027, contributing to community well-being, economic growth, and a healthy environment.

Local Listed Building Consent Order for Solar Panels

The committee approved the adoption of a Local Listed Building Consent Order (LLBCO) for the installation of solar panels on Grade II listed residential properties within the Sutherland Square Conservation Area and the Liverpool Grove Conservation Area. This initiative aims to encourage the uptake of renewable energy in historic buildings, supporting the Council's commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030.

The LLBCO streamlines the process by removing the need for individual listed building consent applications for solar panel installations, provided they meet specific conditions. These conditions ensure that the panels are sited discreetly, primarily on butterfly roofs or flat roofs at least two storeys or 6 metres above street level, and do not protrude excessively or disrupt historic roof features. The order will be in place for five years.

Consultation with residents and Historic England indicated broad support for the proposal, with residents highlighting the benefits of carbon reduction and cost savings. Historic England offered suggestions for future expansions of the order and emphasised the importance of understanding roof structural integrity, which have been incorporated into the conditions. The Equality Impact and Needs Analysis found no negative impacts on protected characteristics, with potential benefits for older residents and those in fuel poverty.

Development Management Applications

The committee considered two major development management applications:

Plot H1 Elephant Park, Elephant Road, London, SE1

The committee granted planning permission for the redevelopment of Plot H1 in Elephant Park. The proposal includes the construction of a mixed-use development comprising shared living units (sui generis), affordable housing (Class C3), and Class E floorspace for a health hub. The development will consist of three buildings, with the tallest reaching 25 storeys.

Key benefits of the scheme include:

• Housing: 695 purpose-built shared living units and 79 affordable homes, all social rent, contributing significantly to the borough's housing targets.
• Health Hub: A new 2,279 sqm health hub to serve the Elephant and Castle area.
• Sustainability: Targeting BREEAM Excellent, with a 72% carbon saving and a 62.50% biodiversity net gain.
• Public Realm: High-quality landscaping and public realm improvements.
• Economic Benefits: An estimated 360 construction jobs and substantial Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments.

The decision was subject to conditions, an additional stipulation in the Section 106 agreement requiring wider community engagement before completion, referral to the Mayor of London, and a deadline for the legal agreement to be met. Councillor Darren Merrill and Councillor Martin Seaton declared non-pecuniary interests as the application was in their wards but approached it with an open mind.

42 St Mary Newington Close, Surrey Square, London SE17 2LP

Planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of the existing Almshouse building to provide a new part 4-6 storey Almshouse building. The proposal will deliver 71 new affordable homes for older people, a housekeeper's flat, and four guest suites, along with communal amenity spaces, a courtyard garden, and a rooftop terrace. The development aims for Passivhaus accreditation, targeting a 72% carbon saving.

The scheme was praised for its high design quality, exceeding sustainability targets, and providing 100% affordable housing equivalent to social rent. While there were objections regarding building height, heritage impacts, and daylight/sunlight, officers concluded that the public benefits, including the increased provision of much-needed affordable housing for older people, outweighed the identified 'less than substantial' harm to heritage assets and minor impacts on daylight and sunlight.

The decision was subject to conditions, including amendments to the construction logistics plan to restrict deliveries outside of school pick-up and drop-off times, and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement. Councillor Richard Livingstone declared a non-pecuniary interest due to working near the application site and stepped down from the meeting before this item was discussed.

The meeting concluded at 9:30 pm.