The Planning Applications Committee of Lambeth Council met on Tuesday 14 April 2026 to consider two planning applications. The committee granted conditional planning permission for the redevelopment of Nolan's Freehouse on Wilcox Road, which will include a new public house and 14 residential units. Permission was also granted for the installation of an all-weather sports pitch and associated facilities at Bishop Thomas Grant School, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement.

Nolan's Freehouse, 33 Wilcox Road, London

The committee granted conditional planning permission for the mixed-use redevelopment of Nolan's Freehouse. The proposal involves demolishing the existing public house and constructing a six-storey building that will include a new public house at ground and basement levels, along with 14 residential units on the upper floors. The committee noted that the scheme would re-provide the public house with increased floor space, contributing to the vitality of the Wilcox Road local centre. While the development would result in the loss of an existing six-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), officers deemed this acceptable as the proposed new homes would meet an identified priority local need for accessible and adaptable dwellings. The design was considered to be a positive response to the evolving character of the area, aligning with the scale and massing of adjacent approved developments. Concerns regarding daylight, sunlight, outlook, privacy, and noise were assessed and deemed acceptable, with conditions and planning obligations secured to mitigate potential impacts. The development will be car-free, with contributions towards local transport infrastructure and a review mechanism to capture any future affordable housing contributions if market conditions improve.

Bishop Thomas Grant School, Belltrees Grove, London

The committee granted conditional planning permission for the development of an all-weather sports pitch (AWSP), six floodlights, a changing room building, and an ecological education area at Bishop Thomas Grant School. This decision was made despite objections concerning the loss of woodland habitat, potential impacts on biodiversity, noise, light spill, and flood risk. Officers concluded that the proposal would significantly upgrade the school's sports provision, benefiting pupils and the wider community, and would enhance the ecological value of the Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). The scheme includes planting over 600 new trees and creating new habitats, resulting in a Biodiversity Net Gain exceeding the statutory requirement. Mitigation measures for noise and light spill, including restricted hours of operation and specific lighting controls, were deemed acceptable. A detailed drainage strategy and management plan, secured by conditions, would address flood risk concerns. The proposal was considered to comply with the development plan, with the public benefits of improved social infrastructure, sport provision, and ecological enhancement outweighing any identified harms. A Section 106 agreement will secure a contribution towards the monitoring of biodiversity net gain.