The Lambeth Council Planning Applications Committee met on Tuesday 28 October 2025 to discuss a temporary Christmas tree market in Brockwell Park and proposed amendments to a residential development on Shakespeare Road. The committee was scheduled to review applications, consider officer recommendations, and address public representations regarding these developments. Councillors were also expected to approve the minutes from previous meetings.

Brockwell Park Christmas Tree Market

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for the temporary use of part of Brockwell Park for a Christmas tree market. The proposed market, run by Bushbay Ltd, would operate from 1 November 2025 to 5 January 2026, with public access from mid-November to 24 December 2025.

The application included the installation of temporary infrastructure, such as fencing, lighting, a sales kiosk, and other ancillary equipment, near the Herne Hill Gate entrance. The report pack noted that the proposed site is located within the Brockwell Park Conservation Area and is designated as a Borough Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SINC).

The report pack stated that one objection was received during the initial public consultation, with concerns raised about potential park damage, sustainable travel, and the use of overgrown areas.

The council's officers recommended conditional planning permission be granted, stating that the principle of the temporary use was acceptable and that associated impacts were also considered acceptable.

Shakespeare Road Residential Development

The Planning Applications Committee was also scheduled to discuss a request to vary condition 2 (Approved Plans) of planning permission 20/01822/EIAFUL for land to the east of Shakespeare Road. The original permission was for the demolition of an existing waste transfer station and redevelopment of the site to provide a residential development.

The applicant, L&G, sought to amend the approved drawings due to detailed design development, requirements following the Building Safety Act¹, and updates to Part L of the Building Regulations². The proposed amendments included an additional 60 homes, increasing the total from 218 to 278, and an increase in height to Block A by 1 storey, to Block C by 4 storeys, and Block B2 by 2 storeys.

The report pack noted that the proposed development would also include 85 affordable homes, an increase from the 67 secured in the original permission. The overall quantum of affordable housing would remain at 35% of all housing when measured by habitable rooms.

The council's officers recommended conditional planning permission be granted, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement³. However, the report pack also acknowledged that the proposed development constitutes a departure from the development plan, as it does not provide equivalent industrial floorspace to replace the lost waste site.

The report pack summarised objections received during public consultation, including concerns about the height of the development, daylight and sunlight impacts, and traffic.

Minutes

Councillor Joanne Simpson, Animal Welfare Champion and chair of the committee, was scheduled to ask the committee to approve the minutes of the meetings held on Tuesday 9 September and Tuesday 23 September 2025.

The minutes of the 9 September 2025 meeting, chaired by Councillor Malcolm Clark, Vice-Chair, included planning decisions for:

• 10 Wyvil Road
• 7 Mawbey Street, Mawbey Arms
• 39 York Road, Elizabeth House
• Land Adjacent To 24 Normandy Road

The minutes of the 23 September 2025 meeting, chaired by Councillor Joanne Simpson, Animal Welfare Champion, included a pre-application developer presentation for Vauxhall Square, and a planning decision for land between Somerleyton Road and the rail line.