Tag Archives: Planning

Councillors oppose “unacceptable” proposals to “unpick” noise protections at Lilford Road development

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Local Myatt’s Fields councillors have raised objections to proposals that would allow noise from heavy machinery beyond 11pm at night from a light industrial complex on Lilford Road – despite a promise to respect the local neighbourhood by the private business outfit running operations from the site.

The plans for the redevelopment of the old business centre at 61 Lilford Road, which is currently nearing completion, drew considerable public comment when first announced at the end of 2022. Local councillors, and many residents, believed there were positive aspects to the proposals, including a commitment to bring new jobs to Myatt’s Fields and breath life into a derelict site scarred by decaying buildings and anti-social behaviour.

However, the original plans from AG Bloom, the developer behind the scheme, included 24 hour traffic movements to and from the site, as well as the operation of so-called “dark kitchen” businesses from the site. Both were eventually ruled out by the developer following pressure from Cllr Paul Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop, as well as local residents and community groups. An outline of the range of restrictions placed on the development by Lambeth’s Planning Committee in June 2023 can be read here.

However, AG Bloom have now submitted a request to Lambeth’s planning department which would allow mechanical equipment, including heavy machinery, to operate on the site past 11pm at night.

Cllr Paul Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop said:

“It is incredibly disappointing that after a huge amount of discussion during the early part of 2023, the developer is attempting to unpick important noise protections placed on the development by Lambeth’s planning committee.

“As we said at the time the original proposals were moving through the planning system, there are positives behind these plans, however, they must respect the fact that the new commercial complex is situated in the middle of a residential area. Residents have a right to enjoy their homes in peace and quiet, especially late at night.

“We are putting in an objection to these proposals and will be asking AG Bloom to withdraw their request that will generate late night noise. We would encourage residents to make their views clear through the consultation currently taking place here.“

Artists impression of the new industrial complex at 61 Lilford Road

Lambeth Council places new restrictions on Lilford Road Business Centre redevelopment

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A range of restrictions has been imposed on the proposed controversial redevelopment of the Lilford Road Business Centre following lobbying by local residents and Myatt’s Fields’ Labour team.

The development is likely to bring new jobs to the area and create a fresh start for the dilapidated buildings at the business centre. There are also proposals to create new green landscaping around the site and install sustainable travel infrastructure for employees, like bike storage sheds.

But many residents were concerned that the original proposals would have allowed delivery vehicles to move to and from the site for more than 100 hours each week which could mean a huge increase in traffic in the heart of a residential area that Lambeth Council has acknowledged is a congestion and pollution hotspot.

The restrictions were imposed by the Council’s Planning Committee at its most recent meeting. Cllr Paul Gadsby told the committee:

“I want to focus my comments tonight on a real concern in the community about an increase in traffic from this application.

“The applicant is proposing a window of 16 hours every weekday when vehicles can move to and from the site:  the Council’s transport assessment suggests that peak hour movements will increase by 60%, this will result in hundreds of extra vehicle movements to and from the site each month, perhaps thousands over the course of a year. And while the developer has ruled out pleasingly the use of takeaway deliver firms in response to the community’s concerns, it hasn’t ruled out grocery or other high intensity delivery outfits: this model being pushed by developers across London is causing chaos in other residential areas, like Lilford Road, where residents are subject to increased noise, congestion and pollution, especially from speeding motorbikes.

“It should be noted that Lambeth Council has identified this area as a traffic hotspot with millions to be allocated to reduce traffic in the area: residents might rightly ask if this is a waste of money should this application go through unamended.”

As a result of the campaign by the community and councillors, the committee approved the application but placed more than 30 conditions on the development to address the community’s concerns.

They included:

  • Tough monitoring procedures to ensure the applicant abides by the delivery hours approved by the committee.
  • A requirement for the developer to appoint a “community liaison officer” who would be on call to answer any concerns raised by local residents.
  • The conditions also confirmed that delivery hours would be limited to 7am to 11pm weekdays – down from the 24 hour delivery window originally proposed.
  • So called “dark kitchens” (takeway food outlets) would be barred from operating on the premises.

Responding to the outcome of the meeting, Cllr Gadsby said:

“Cllr Gallop and I want to thank local residents, MPs and community groups, including the Lilford Road Action Group and the Brixton Society, for the huge amount of effort they have put into improving these proposals.

“We did not get everything we wanted and would have liked to have seen further reductions in delivery times to and from the site, however, the plans have undergone a lot of change from the original proposals from the developers last year. This includes tougher traffic restrictions on the businesses using the site to rule out the very worst high delivery businesses which are unsuitable in a residential neighbourhood. We acknowledge that the developer has also listened to local residents, with a number of the changes made voluntarily by them following a lengthy period of discussion in the past six months.

“However, we will be watching the development as it progresses. The planning committee spent more than two hours debating the traffic points made by residents and councillors: it is now over to the developer and Lambeth’s Building Control Team to make sure the promises made at the committee are upheld, especially those relating to ensuring there no adverse effects on local roads and pollution from the site.”

Councillors to demand substantial changes to plans for new development at Lilford Road business centre

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Substantial changes to controversial plans to redevelop an industrial site in Myatt’s Fields are being demanded by our local Labour councillors.

The old Lilford Road Business Centre has been the subject of plans for redevelopment from a company, AG Bloom.

While welcoming the idea of bringing new jobs to the area and creating a fresh start for the dilapidated buildings at the business centre, local councillors have been concerned that the proposals to let 24 hour delivery vehicles move to and from the site could result in a huge increase in traffic in the heart of a residential area that Lambeth Council has itself acknowledged is a congestion and pollution hotspot.

The developer has already been forced to make significant changes following a campaign by councillors and local residents.

The threat of a high-intensity food delivery service – condemned as “madness”– has already been headed off. The developer has submitted a revised application that bars these so called dark kitchen outfits from operating out of the new commercial units, and restricts delivery times to 7am to 11pm – a significant change to the original proposals which would have allowed 24-hour weekday deliveries.

But Councillors Gadsby and Gallop say the compromises don’t go far enough and will press their case at next week’s Lambeth Council Planning Committee meeting.

They want further assurances that businesses which move into the Lilford Road Business Centre won’t damage the local environment or leave the local community with a nightmare of high traffic and pollution. They insist that operational hours should be restricted further. They will also urge the council to ensure that landscaping and greening plans are part of the development.

The councillors said:

“It is encouraging that the developer has moved some way to addressing the concerns of residents and local councillors. As we have said during our initial comments on these proposals, we do believe it would be madness to have a high intensity delivery service in the heart of a residential area that Lambeth itself has acknowledged is a hotspot for traffic problems. The borough has committed to spend significant public funds to address the current issues around Lilford Road, Loughborough Road and Myatt’s Fields park and we are extremely concerned these proposals will work against these plans.

“We will be attending the Lambeth planning committee meeting on Tuesday, 9 May to ask for further restrictions on delivery hours from the site. There are other improvements we would like to see, including more effort from the developer to work with local community groups to enhance the landscaping and greening plans attached to the development.”

The Lambeth planning committee will be taking place on Tuesday, 9 May from 7pm: the agenda for the meeting is here.

Councillors raise concerns over planning application for the Lilford Road business centre

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Local Myatt’s Fields councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop have raised concerns about plans from a developer to potentially open new “dark kitchens” on the site of the Lilford Road business centre.

The company, AG Bloom, has submitted a planning application to create a new industrial complex on the site, currently occupied by run-down buildings.

While welcoming the idea of bringing new jobs to the area and bringing new life to the business centre, local councillors are concerned that the re-built blocks could be used for so-called “dark kitchens” – set up to provide only takeaway food – resulting in an increase in noise, pollution and traffic congestion in the area. After objections by local residents and councillors, the developer has submitted a revised application which will be consulted on until Monday 20 February: this continues to ask for traffic movement to and from the business centre for up to 16 hours a day.

Local councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop said:

“We recognise that the Lilford Road business centre needs investment and a boost to the local economy would be welcome given these tough economic times.

“But we do have significant concerns about these proposals, particularly the suggestion that “dark kitchens” could be run from this residential location. This business model could significantly increase loud, constant traffic from early in the morning to late at night resulting in an ongoing nuisance to residents as well as a potential increase in pollution. These plans are in the total opposite direction to the Council’s recently announced intention to spend significant funds addressing traffic issues in the area and would exacerbate problems on roads that the borough has identified as being some of the worst in Lambeth.

“We understand that the developer has submitted a revised application following feedback from the community, but unfortunately it still fails to address the core problems with the original plans. According to the revised proposals, traffic movement will still be allowed at a constant pace for 16 hours a day during the week, as well as significant hours at the weekend.”

Cllr Gadsby and Gallop intend to submit a revised objection to the application. You can read the plans for the site and give your comments here.

Consultation launched on plans to redevelop Lilford Road business centre

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A public consultation has been launched by a business developer about its initial plans to redevelop the Lilford Road Business Centre.

The site is currently occupied by several industrial buildings which the developer Bloom, which describes itself as a urban warehouse investment and development manager, believes are no longer “fit for purpose”. They are proposing to create a new “industrial estate comprising nine, two-storey warehouse spaces with a single central yard for loading and deliveries”.

Site plan of the proposed new development.

The consultation is designed by the company to test the local’s community’s views about the proposals before a planning application is submitted.

Local councillors, Cllr Paul Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop, are urging residents to give their views about the proposals here.