Lambeth Council has approved a £2bn redevelopment at Vauxhall Square by a 4-3 vote that will include seven buildings and the UK’s second-tallest residential tower at 756ft (230.5m). The mixed-use scheme promises 25% affordable homes, student accommodation and public amenities including a gym and pool. Critics — including Historic England and a carbon-specialist architect — warn of harm to the Westminster World Heritage Site and high lifetime carbon emissions. Developers say the project will complete local regeneration; detailed design and construction timetables are yet to be confirmed.
Vauxhall Square Approved: UK’s Second-Tallest Residential Tower to Rise at 756ft
UK's second-tallest residential building approved
Lambeth Council has narrowly approved a £2bn redevelopment at Vauxhall Square that will include the UK’s second-tallest residential tower. The scheme, led by Bmor with Cedarstone Capital Partners and Cheyne Capital, was passed by councillors in a 4-3 vote.
What the Scheme Includes
The masterplan covers seven buildings ranging from two storeys to 69 storeys, with the tallest tower reaching 756ft (230.5m). The development will deliver a mix of uses: residential (including 25% affordable homes), dedicated student accommodation, offices, a hotel, a cinema, retail space and community facilities. One building is planned to house a publicly accessible gym and swimming pool.
Context
For comparison, Canary Wharf’s Landmark Pinnacle remains the UK’s tallest residential building at 784ft (239m). Developers say the project will "complete the regeneration of this part of Vauxhall on an extraordinary scale," according to Jason Tracy, founder of Bmor.
Controversy and Objections
The plans faced significant opposition during the consultation. Historic England warned the scheme would cause "incremental harm" to the Westminster World Heritage Site, which includes the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey. Wandsworth and Westminster councils also raised objections.
Environment and design concerns were voiced by critics including Mike Kane, an architect and university lecturer specialising in carbon in construction. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the development represented "the worst example of unremitting hostility to the planet" in carbon terms, saying the site’s predicted emissions average almost double the Greater London Authority benchmark in the London Plan and that the buildings would be expensive to heat and operate over a 60-year lifetime.
Local Impact
Stockwell East councillor Kevin Brown warned the planning committee the towers would be visible from neighbourhoods including Stockwell and Brixton. Supporters argue the mixed-use scheme will bring jobs, homes and new amenities to the area, while opponents highlight long-term environmental and heritage risks.
With planning approval secured, developers will move to the next stages of detailed design and any required planning obligations. A construction timetable has not yet been confirmed.
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