VCI Property Holdings, an investment group backed by one of Saudia Arabia’s wealthiest families, has submitted an EIA application to Lambeth Council for the major redevelopment of the Vauxhall Cross island site, SW8.
The scheme proposes the construction of a mixed-use development comprising two towers of 53 and 42 storeys (151m), to provide 1.2 million sq ft in total. Around 270 homes, a 420 bed hotel, 230,000 sq ft of offices, as well as retail space, is planned.
Dubai-registered Rassmal Investments, which is backed by the Al Shawaf family, exchanged contracts to buy the site in February 2016, through Guernsey-listed vehicle VCI Property Holding.
The acquisition came with planning already in place for towers of 31 and 41 storeys, approved by the then secretary of state Eric Pickles, following a public enquiry.
The previous scheme would have seen 291 homes, with 66 affordable as well as a 179 bed hotel and 23,000 sq ft of offices.
The then applicant Kylun appealed against the “non-determination” as Lambeth were very much against the plan, as they envisaged a redesign of the Vauxhall gyratory and bus garage, which the scheme would have inhibited.
The scheme went before a planning committee in October 2011, with the recommendation “to resist the granting of planning permission at the forthcoming public inquiry”. Lambeth Council stated “the proposed development is located within the heart of Vauxhall and its redevelopment is fundamental to the appearance and function of the area. The proposed development in its current form, is contrary to the council’s core strategy.
“The council cannot be assured that the development proposed would provide the appropriate form of public realm and sense of place required in this location if a truly sustainable pattern of development across the Vauxhall area is to be achieved. It is therefore considered reasonable to resist granting planning permission for the current application.”
The EIA documents reveal “the design has been carefully developed taking into account the wider strategic objectives” including the “realisation of the proposed gyratory works by Transport for London” and that “continued engagement with TfL will seek to ensure the developments progress in parallel”.
TfL’s plan for Vauxhall Cross include the removal of the one-way system, including a redesigned transport interchange and a new bus station. A planning application is due to be submitted later this year, with construction expected to start in 2019 and completed by 2021.
VCI Property Holdings’ revised plan could complete by 2022, according to the EIA documents.
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