Policy information sourced from Lambeth Local Plan 2020-2035

H12: Build to rent

The council supports Build to Rent developments that meet the definition in London Plan policy H11. For Build to Rent proposals, the council will follow the policy approach set out in London Plan policy H11, subject to the following additional requirements:

  • Where a development proposal involving Build to Rent has potential to include more than one residential core and/or block, applicants should use this separate core and/or block to provide low cost rented housing to be managed independently by a registered provider of affordable housing. To follow the Fast Track Route, the council will seek 70 per cent of the overall affordable housing requirement for the development as low cost rented accommodation within this separate core and/or block. The 30 per cent intermediate affordable housing requirement will normally be accepted as discount market rent accommodation within the Build to Rent element of the scheme at London Living Rent levels. If the low cost rented accommodation to be managed by a registered provider in the separate core and/or block equates to less than 70 per cent of the overall affordable housing requirement for the development, the proposal must follow the Viability Tested route. In these circumstances, the council will seek from the applicant the optimum affordable housing offer for the development as a whole.
  • Where an applicant can demonstrate to the council’s satisfaction that it is not feasible in design terms to include a separate residential core and/ or block in the development proposal, the council will accept the full affordable housing requirement for the scheme as discount market rent units managed alongside the market rent units, in accordance with the requirements of London Plan policy. To follow the Fast Track Route, the council will seek 30 per cent of the affordable provision at rents equivalent to London Living Rent level, with the remainder at a range of genuinely affordable rents to meet priority housing need in Lambeth, in accordance with the preferred approach set out in the council’s Tenancy Strategy. If these requirements are not met, the scheme must follow the Viability Tested route.
  • The package of discounted units below market rent will be secured through a section 106 legal agreement. This agreement will also cover the approach to letting the discounted market rent units and associated management and monitoring arrangements.
  • The minimum covenant period for all Build to Rent schemes in Lambeth will be 25 years, to be secured through a section 106 legal agreement. A claw-back mechanism will apply in accordance with London Plan policy.

For more information please see the Local Plan