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Planning Applications Committee - Tuesday 3 June 2025 7.00 pm

June 3, 2025 View on council website Watch video of meeting
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Summary

The Lambeth Council Planning Applications Committee met to discuss two planning applications, one concerning improvements to Myatt's Fields Park Depot and the other for the construction of residential buildings to the rear of 148 Leigham Court Road. The committee voted to approve both applications, subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 agreement1 for the Leigham Court Road development.

Myatt's Fields Park Depot

The committee voted to grant conditional planning permission for the partial demolition of depot buildings and the erection of a single-storey extension to provide a community centre building at Myatt's Fields Park Depot. The development also includes the provision of a bin store and cycle stands, the installation of new gates to the boundary fence for pedestrians, and the retention of the Cormont Road entrance for vehicles to the car park.

Two speakers, Eliza Infante and Victoria Sherwood, addressed the committee in support of the application, highlighting the need to improve access to food in the neighbourhood and the potential of the depot to support climate action, community engagement, and enterprise.

Councillor Scott Ainslie, Group Leader, asked about the use of cross-laminated timber2 in the construction. David Johnson from Dannet Johnson Architects, the architect for the scheme, responded that laminated timber beams with conventional timber joists were chosen as a more sustainable and economic solution, as cross-laminated timber involves the use of glues.

Councillor Emma Nye asked about public access to toilets. The committee heard that there is a public toilet nearby.

Councillor Scott Ainslie expressed a wish for materials that absorb carbon to be considered. Despite this, he supported the project.

Councillor Joanne Simpson, Animal Welfare Champion and Chair of the meeting, noted the scheme's compliance with the development plan and its public benefits, and proposed that the committee accept the officer's recommendation and grant planning permission.

Land Rear Of 148 Leigham Court Road

The committee voted to grant conditional planning permission for the erection of three five-storey buildings to provide 34 residential units to the rear of 148 Leigham Court Road, subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 agreement. The development includes car parking spaces, bicycle parking, refuse storage, landscaping, boundary treatments, and a new access via Curtisfield Road.

Steve Mannion and Florence Fairweather, residents of 148 Leigham Court Road, spoke against the application. Their objections related to the amount of occupation and development of the land, loss of garden land, access to the back garden, and loss of sunlight to the communal space.

Richard Evans from Carnie Sweeney, planning consultants, spoke in support of the application on behalf of the applicants.

Councillor Malcolm Clark, representing Streatham Wells ward, welcomed the application but raised concerns about protecting residents' access to private amenity space, the impact on amenity space for lower flats, pedestrian access from Curtis Field Road to Leigham Court Road, and Section 106 contributions towards Valley Road playing fields.

Councillor Scott Ainslie raised concerns about the lack of consideration given to open space, as defined in the London Plan. He also questioned the narrowness of the access point and the consideration given to noise, dust, and accessibility during construction.

Councillor Emma Nye asked about the management plan for greenery on site and the maintenance of landscaping. She also sought clarification on land ownership matters and the loss of sunlight to the communal space.

The committee heard that the applicant had right of access across the strip of land in question, and that the overshadowing impact on the communal space was considered acceptable in policy terms.

Councillor Scott Ainslie asked whether the development would provide accessibility for people to walk through from the football pitch at the bottom of Valley Field up through the blocks to get to Leigham Court Road. The committee heard that the site itself is not a public footpath.

Councillor Scott Ainslie raised concerns about the tree canopy, given that Streatham Wells and Streatham Sunlanders are the most nature-depleted wards in the borough. He asked how biodiversity net gain was calculated, considering the loss of mature trees. The committee heard that a CAVAT valuation3 was submitted and independently reviewed, and that the replacement planting was found to be a suitable value in terms of replacement. Councillor Scott Ainslie questioned the financial viability assessment, particularly the affordable housing contribution. Juliet Farrow from Averson Young, viability consultants, explained that providing affordable units on site was not possible due to significant build costs, and that the payment in lieu figure reflected a lesser sum due to viability testing.

The committee heard that the £445,000 payment would not equate to 11 residential units, but would be used by the council to provide affordable housing elsewhere in the borough.

Councillor Scott Ainslie asked how many affordable units would be provided elsewhere for that money. The committee heard that it would depend on the scheme and the build costs, but that the council would use the figure to provide affordable housing somewhere else in the borough for its residents.

Councillor Scott Ainslie also questioned the build cost of £301 per square metre, which was clarified to be £301 per square foot, equating to approximately £3,239 per square metre.

Councillor Joanne Simpson proposed that the committee accept the officer's recommendation and grant planning permission, with an informative that the applicants have dialogue with future residents when submitting information for the play space condition.

Councillor Scott Ainslie abstained from the vote.


  1. Section 106 agreements are legal agreements between local authorities and developers, used to mitigate the impact of new developments on the community and infrastructure. 

  2. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a multi-layered, prefabricated, solid engineered wood panel product used for wall, roof and floor construction. 

  3. CAVAT (Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees) is a method of assessing the monetary value of amenity trees. 

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Joanne Simpson
Councillor Joanne Simpson  Animal Welfare Champion •  Labour •  Stockwell West and Larkhall
Profile image for Councillor Malcolm Clark
Councillor Malcolm Clark  Labour •  Streatham Wells
Profile image for Councillor Scott Ainslie
Councillor Scott Ainslie  Group Leader •  Green •  Streatham St Leonard's
Profile image for Councillor Martin Bailey
Councillor Martin Bailey  Chair of Pensions Committee •  Labour •  Vauxhall
Profile image for Councillor Diogo Costa
Councillor Diogo Costa  Policy Lead for Digital, Data and Insight •  Labour •  Oval
Profile image for Councillor Saleha Jaffer
Councillor Saleha Jaffer  Deputy Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities •  Labour •  St Martin's
Profile image for Councillor Emma Nye
Councillor Emma Nye  Labour •  Knight's Hill
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