Victory for residents - 8 Albert Embankment

Local residents have once again secured a major victory against the London Fire Authority’s handling of the plans to develop the site behind 8 Albert Embankment.

Residents of Whitgift House and Whitgift Street, supported by your local Labour Team, have consistently called for the Fire Authority to drop its unsatisfactory developer, Native Land. We are pleased to report that this hard work has paid off, and that members of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority yesterday voted to discontinue using Native Land.

Joining local campaigners Visakha Chandrasekera and Michael Ball at the London Fire Authority HQ this afternoon; Councillor Steve Morgan and Labour candidates Joanne Simpson and David Amos spoke out on residents’ behalf and publicly called for the abandonment of Native Land. Steve and Joanne also both met high level management of the Fire Authority last week to warn the body that they intended to publicly denounce the use of Native Land. Steve and Joanne highlighted three main issues: lack of public transparency, woeful levels of affordable housing and a contemptuous lack of regard for the opinions of local residents.

Your Labour Team is delighted that the Fire Authority has finally decided to listen to the concerns of the community and has realised that an alternative developer would produce a better deal, not only for local residents, but for the financial future of the Fire Authority too. This is a fantastic result and thoroughly deserved of the hard work and dedication of the local campaign.

You can be assured that your three Labour candidates David Amos, Chris Marsh and Joanne Simpson will continue to monitor this issue closely and ensure that the Fire Authority proceeds in its new choice of a developer in a transparent way. Your local Labour team will continue to support residents to ensure we secure the best benefits for the community.

Pictured: local campaigners at an earlier protest against Native Land outside the Fire Station

Residents say no to Fire Authority's dodgy developer

Residents of the Whitgift Estate and beyond have reacted angrily to the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA)'s decision to continue working with their completely discredited development partner (Native Land) for their plans for the fire brigade sites behind 8 Albert Embankment.

In May the Planning Inspector threw out Native Land's scheme on the grounds it would unacceptably reduce light to Whitgift House and Whitgift Street. This was after a sustained campaign from local residents, supported by local councillors, Kate Hoey and Lambeth's Planning Committee.

The developer has ignored local concerns about light, local businesses, and affordable homes. It claimed that the development would not be viable if it included affordable housing, but has refused to reveal details of the secret deal cooked up between them and LFEPA, which is believed to involved a figure of £40 million.

Residents and councillors recently met with a fire brigade official to explain that the community has no confidence in Native Land and that they must employ a new development partner and start afresh if they want engagement from the local community.

LFEPA have ignored this demand - Native Land have put together a new proposal for the sites. They attempted to exhibit their new plans this evening - but local residents protested outside the sham consultation meeting.

Pictured: Maddy Howatson, Joanne Simpson, David Amos and Eileen Bagge outside the Fire Brigade

Dates announced for Fire HQ planning appeal

The Planning Inspectorate have now set the dates for the London Fire Authority'a appeal against Lambeth Council's decision not to grant planning permission to their scheme for the Albert Embankment, Whitgift Street  and Black Prince Road.

The dates are:


23 October 2012 - deadline for comments from interested parties (residents)

26 February 2013 – date of the inquiry.

The case is now on the Planning Inspectorate's website.


Your councillors objected to the plans - read our objection here.

Developers to appeal fire HQ redevelopment

On 31 July it was announced that developer Native Land and the London Fire Brigade are going to appeal Lambeth Council's decision to reject their plan to redevelop three sites around Albert Embankment and Whitgift Street.

Residents of Whitfgift House have been fiercely opposed to the scheme, which will deprive most of their homes of sunlight for much of the year. Local councillors supported residents by making our own objection when the scheme went to the Planning Committee last year.

The appeal means that the Planning Inspectorate will now decide whether the multimillion pound redevelopment goes ahead.

Fire Authority spin doctors messed up the announcement of the appeal by accidently copying Kate Hoey MP into their email discussion about when to reveal the news. They revealed their main motivation by saying 'I am keen the timings are exact on this. £40million is not a sum to be sniffed at and the comms are important to get right to help with the appeal.'

Kate Hoey responded:

'We will fight the fire authority tooth and nail over this ridiculous scheme. As a publicly accountable body they have totally ignored the wishes of the local community. The developer they are in cahoots with are being greedy and involved only to make huge profits. They will not get away with this.'

Planning Committee see Whitgift Estate's concerns for themselves

On Saturday morning members of Lambeth's Planning Committee made a site visit to the Fire Brigade HQ and associated buildings which are the subject of a major planning application. Dozens of concerned local residents joined the visit to make their objections to the scheme known.

Residents of Whitgift House showed how the proposed new residential slab blocks would overshadow their building, depriving it of almost all daylight during the winter months. The Friends of Lambeth High Street Recreation Ground explained how shadowing from the new buildings would affect plant and tree growth, and make the new play fountain prone to moss growth. And local councillors Steve Morgan and Mark Harrison explained how putting all the social housing for the scheme into a building on the other side of the railway tracks would contribute to social segregation in the area, and not create a mixed and balanced community.


The application is due to go to the Planning Committee tomorrow evening.


Pictured: participants in the site visit look across to the Whitgift Street site from the back of the Fire Brigade HQ.

New Florian Place proposals to be publicly exhibited

Developers have announced an exhibition of their revised proposals to redevelop 8 Albert Embankment, the site to the rear on Whitgift Street, and the site at the corner of Black Prince Road and Newport Street. All used to be part of the London Fire Brigade headquarters.

The previous proposals did not make it to Lambeth's Planning Committee as officers objected to the loss of employment land, and local councillors objected to the lack of affordable housing.

The new proposals are significantly revised:

-the proportion of affordable housing rises from 10% to 29%

-there is an increase in commercial floor space

-there are big changes to the heights of the new buildings, to better preserve the views of listed buildings

The exhibition will take place on:

-Friday 11 February between 2pm and 6pm

-Saturday 12 February between 10:30am and 1:30pm

at: Lambeth Fire Station, 8 Albert Embankment, SE1 7SP

You can view the planning application and comment on it on Lambeth's Planning Database

Local councillors to oppose development

Developers have submitted their application to redevelop the Fire Brigade's buildings at 8 Albert Embankment, Whitgift Street, and the corner of Black Prince Road and Newport Street.

You can see all the details of the plans on Lambeth's Planning Database

Local councillors were surprised to be told that only 32 of the 360 proposed flats will be affordable. Lambeth's target for all new buildings is 50%.

Councillor Mark Harrison said 'we are planning to oppose this development, as 10% is a derisory proportion of affordable housing. New developments need to benefit everybody in Lambeth, and not just provide private flats for wealthy people. We understand that the developers are paying for a refurbished fire station, but we don't think this is an excuse for not providing affordable housing.'