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Planning Committee (Major Applications) B - Wednesday 10 September 2025 6.30 pm

September 10, 2025 View on council website

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Summary

The Planning Committee (Major Applications) B of Southwark Council met on 10 September 2025 to discuss a number of planning and development issues. The agenda included the adoption of a Climate and Environment Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), several requests to release funds from Section 106 agreements1, and two development management cases.

Climate and Environment Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

The committee was scheduled to discuss the adoption of the Climate and Environment SPD. The document was scheduled to be submitted to the cabinet for approval in October, following a public consultation that concluded in November 2024.

The SPD is designed to support the implementation of the Southwark Plan 20222 by providing additional guidance to applicants and case officers on how to implement climate and environment policies. According to the agenda, the SPD will:

  • Offer guidance on applying the relevant policies of the Southwark Plan 2022.
  • Provide guidance on conforming to national and local legislation and policies.
  • Serve as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

The SPD aims to help make development and the environment cleaner and more biodiverse, energy efficient and resilient to the effects of climate change . It aligns with the Southwark 2030 Strategy, which sets out a vision for a fair, green, and safe borough .

The agenda notes that the council has declared a Climate Emergency with the ambition to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. The SPD is intended to support this goal by providing guidance on how to meet the policy requirements set out in the Southwark Plan 2022.

The consultation responses have been analysed and revisions made to the SPD, including changes requested by the Environment Scrutiny Commission. Revisions were made to the following sections of the SPD:

  • Introduction
  • Energy and Sustainability
  • Flood Risk & Air Quality
  • Biodiversity, Green Infrastructure and Trees
  • Transport and movement
  • Glossary and Appendices

Section 106 Agreements

The committee was scheduled to discuss the release of funds from Section 106 agreements for the following projects:

  • Bells Garden Estate Playground: A release of £101,782.80 for the delivery of a playground on the Bells Garden Estate.
  • Great Suffolk Street Area Scheme - Phase 2: A release of £139,927.45 for the delivery of the Great Suffolk Street Area Scheme - Phase 2.
  • Lost Peck Flood Alleviation and Environmental Enhancement Scheme: A release of £428,834.94 to support the delivery of the Lost Peck Flood Alleviation and Environmental Enhancement Scheme.
  • Bus Service Improvements on Old Kent Road and Elephant and Castle: A release of £5,078,652.01 to Transport for London (TfL) to deliver improvements to bus services on Old Kent Road and Elephant and Castle (Bakerloo bus).

Development Management

The committee was scheduled to discuss the following development management cases:

Other Items

The agenda also included standard items such as apologies for absence, confirmation of voting members, notification of urgent business, disclosure of interests and dispensations, and approval of the minutes from the meeting held on 15 July 2025.


  1. Section 106 agreements, also known as planning obligations, are legal agreements between local authorities and developers; these are used to mitigate the impact of new developments on the community and infrastructure. 

  2. The Southwark Plan 2022 is the borough's current local plan, setting out the vision, objectives, and policies for development in Southwark. 

Attendees

Profile image for CouncillorRichard Livingstone
Councillor Richard Livingstone  Labour •  Old Kent Road
Profile image for CouncillorKath Whittam
Councillor Kath Whittam  Green •  Rotherhithe
Profile image for CouncillorSam Dalton
Councillor Sam Dalton  Deputy Cabinet Member for Supported Housing •  Labour •  London Bridge & West Bermondsey
Profile image for CouncillorKetzia Harper
Councillor Ketzia Harper  Independent •  Faraday
Profile image for CouncillorCleo Soanes
Councillor Cleo Soanes  Labour •  Peckham
Profile image for CouncillorEmily Tester
Councillor Emily Tester  Liberal Democrats •  North Bermondsey
Profile image for CouncillorJoseph Vambe
Councillor Joseph Vambe  Deputy Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods •  Labour •  Chaucer

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

Agenda

Supplemental Agenda No.1 Wednesday 10-Sep-2025 18.30 Planning Committee Major Applications B.pdf
Agenda frontsheet Wednesday 10-Sep-2025 18.30 Planning Committee Major Applications B.pdf

Reports Pack

Public reports pack Wednesday 10-Sep-2025 18.30 Planning Committee Major Applications B.pdf

Additional Documents

Addendum Wednesday 10-Sep-2025 18.30 Planning Committee Major Applications B.pdf