Policy information sourced from Lambeth Local Plan 2020-2035
ED2: Affordable workspace
- In accordance with London Plan policy E3, the council will apply the following requirements for the uplift of affordable workspace in the following locations:
- In Waterloo/Southbank and Vauxhall developments proposing at least 1000m2 gross office floorspace should provide 10 per cent of the rentable floorspace (Net Internal Area (NIA)) at 50 per cent of market rents for a period of 15 years;
- In Oval, Kennington and Clapham developments proposing at least 1000m2 gross office floorspace should provide 10 per cent of the rentable floorspace (NIA) at 80 per cent of market rents for a period of 15 years;
- In the Brixton Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ) developments proposing at least 1000m2 gross office floorspace should provide 10 per cent of the rentable floorspace (NIA) as affordable workspace for a period of 25 years with the following discounts on market rents:
| CEZ within town centre boundary | CEZ outside town centre boundary | |
|---|---|---|
| Between 1000m2 and 5000m2 | No discount | 50 per cent of market rents |
| Between 5,001m2 and 10,000m2 | 65 per cent of market rents | 65 per cent of market rents |
| Greater than 10,000m2 | 50 per cent of market rents | 80 per cent of market rents |
- The affordable workspace secured should be provided on-site and be designed to meet a local need for office, light industrial or research and development workspace.
- Affordable workspace must be made available in one of the following ways:
- Leased and managed by an affordable workspace provider on the council’s approved list in accordance with an agreed workspace management plan.
- Managed directly by the owner where it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the council that they have the necessary skills and experience and an agreed workspace management plan is in place.
- Leased by the owner to one or more end users on the council’s approved register of organisations that require non-managed affordable workspace.
- The affordable workspace should be made available for occupation within 12 months of first occupation of the non-affordable workspace. In phased developments, the affordable workspace can be delivered on a pro-rata basis, requiring that at least the minimum amount triggered for that phase is delivered and ready for occupation within 12 months of the occupation of the non-affordable workspace element. Where affordable workspace is being provided through a phased mixed-use development, planning obligations will be required to ensure timely delivery.
- In exceptional circumstances, a payment in lieu may be accepted where it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the council that on-site provision is not feasible and/or that a greater economic impact would be achieved through this route. The payment should be calculated using the method set out in Annex 9. Payments in lieu will be used by the council to support the provision of affordable workspace anywhere in Lambeth.
- Proposals that do not provide the level of affordable workspace required by this policy will be required to submit viability information, which will be independently assessed. Where this assessment determines that a greater level of affordable workspace could viably be supported, a higher level of affordable workspace will be required, capped at the level required by the policy. In addition, early and late viability reviews will be applied to all schemes that do not provide the level of affordable workspace required by the policy.
- Proposals requiring planning permission that involve the loss of existing affordable workspace will not be permitted unless the quantum of affordable workspace is replaced on-site or re-provided elsewhere in Lambeth on equivalent terms to the satisfaction of the council.
For more information please see the Local Plan