Version 1

(updated 28/10/2020)

​

Introduction

Our Planning Criteria provides an overview of what makes a good development. The criteria illustrates how Living Bankside assesses a planning proposal. Where a planning proposal meets our criteria it will attract our support. If a planning proposal fails to meet our criteria it will attract our objection. For detailed information on our Planning Criteria (Initial Assessment Service) please contact us. 

​

This Planning criteria is frequently updated to reflect the needs and wishes of local residents, employees and others. 

 

Living Bankside covers the following wards:

 

Southwark: 

• Borough & Bankside,

• London Bridge & West Bermondsey,

• Chaucer

• St George’s

Lambeth:

• Bishop's

 

One of Living Bankside’s key objectives is to ensure that local people can genuinely influence regeneration. For the last 20 years we have been bringing together residents, MP’s, Councillors, officials and local interest groups to ensure that development is balanced and of benefit to residents and the wider community. We support the principle of regeneration and aim to support new developments if they are appropriate. 

​

A good and appropriate development will ensure the following is achieved:

​

Consultation

• Refers to Living Bankside's Consultation Charter

• Protected Characteristics should be given particular focus in consultation

• Early discussions with relevant community groups / Engagement before Pre-App or at the latest at Pre-App Stage

• Use of Living Bankside's Consultation & Engagement Service 

• Resident feedback should be implemented where possible and illustrated transparently  before the planning application is submitted.

​

Design 

• Complimentary to the immediate and surrounding areas 

• Respects Heritage and Conservation Areas 

• Uses sustainable materials 

• Scale and mass is respectful

• Active frontages to be included and to be appropriate

• Unobtrusive service areas

• Relevant uses in terms of the footprint of the site and spatial aims for the vicinity

• An appropriate and durable palette of materials

• Does not result in overhangs, shadowing, or potential light and noise infringements on neighbouring properties.

• Does not or has minimal daylight and sunlight impacts on neighbouring properties

• Does not or has minimal vehicle movements, noise and odour impacts on neighbouring properties
   

 

Housing 

• Net increase in Social Rented Housing 

• Minimum of 50% of all proposed housing in a new development should be at social rent

• All Social rented homes should be delivered onsite 

• Key worker homes

 

Social/Community Infrastructure 

• Public Toilets 

• Publicly Accessible Sporting Facilitates 

• State of the Art Neighbourhood Centre 

• GP Facilities 

• Public Art 

• Drinking Fountains

​

Heritage and Culture

• Shakespeare's Globe, Rose Playhouse and Tate Modern should not be affected by any adverse noise that could emanate from a new development. 

• Views of Southwark Cathedral MUST be protected

• There should be no negative effect on listed buildings and conservation areas

• Values the local historic character and heritage fabric of each local area

• Views of  St George’s Cathedral , St Paul’s Cathedral and  Thames Riverside MUST be protected

​

Cleaner, Greener, Safer

• Net increase Green space 

• Carbon Neutrality - Whole Life Carbon Model 

• Public Drinking Fountains 

• Careful consideration around maintenance and cleaning of public areas 

• Includes measures to generate natural surveillance
   

​

Retail 

• Full restriction or limitations on multinational food and beverage companies 

• 50% Affordable Retail Provision

• Should be at  £20 per Sqm

• Should achieve unique retail offering

• Certainty of retail offer desired. 

​

Affordable Workspace 

•  Certainty is required - s.106 shared use agreement where applicable and Heads of Terms with potential operator.

• Should be at  £20 per Sqm

• Socially minded organisations which are not for profit should be prioritised. 

• Those who can prove involvement and inclusion of local residents and community groups such as Living Bankside should be prioritised

• Mixed Uses to be encouraged

​

Hotel Provision

• Hotels are undesired and Borough and Bankside is saturated with Hotels 

• If a hotel is proposed it should have significant opportunities for the community and in particular local residents - onsite 

​

Office Accommodation

• Co-Working

• What Kind of Jobs? 

​

Daylight & Sunlight Impact

• There should be minimal daylight and sunlight impacts on residential properties and advanced measures should be proposed to mitigate any affects. 

​

​Overlooking/loss of privacy

• There should be  no overlooking or loss of privacy on residential properties and advanced measures should be proposed to mitigate any affects. 

​

During Construction 

• Construction Management should be detailed and produced in collaboration with immediate neighbours before the planning application is submitted

• Employment during construction should be discussed with Living Bankside. Living Bankside should be commissioned to help with the delivery of this obligation

• Community Liaison Framework - Living Bankside should be commissioned to help with the delivery of this obligation

• Noise and Nuisance Issues should be mitigated

​

Development in Operation 

• Servicing Management should be detailed and produced in collaboration with immediate neighbours before the planning application is submitted

• Employment after Construction should be discussed with Living Bankside. Living Bankside should be commissioned to help with the delivery of this obligation

• Community Liaison Framework - Living Bankside should be commissioned to help with the delivery of this obligation

• Noise and Nuisance Issues should be mitigated

• General Management - developers should ensure they, thier management agents and occupants sign up to Living Bankside's Good Neighbour Principles

• Restrictions on hours of use of Roof Terraces - conditions to be applied 

• Restrictions on tables and chairs to limit impact on permeability and openness of public realm. - conditions to be applied

​

Community Infrastructure Levy 

• Developers are encouraged to work with immediate neighbours to ascertain where the neighbours  would like the neighbourhood portion of thier CIL contribution spent. Developers should offer pro bono and written support to realise the identified Community Infrastructure Projects. Living Bankside can assist with this.

​

Other

• Ventilation and Air ducts should not be at ground floor

• Smoking in the public realm should be designed out with designated smoking zones or internal courtyards, balconies etc.

​

Corporate Social Responsibility

• We expect developers to engage with Living Bankside and others to support local charitable projects and programmes through funding or pro bono advice/support.

Parking

• There should be no onsite parking except those required by law for disabled persons

Highway safety
Traffic
Layout and density of building
Government policy
Disabled persons' access
Proposals in the Development Plan
Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions)
Nature conservation

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​