07 Vauxhall Square, item 6. PDF 626 KB - Lambeth Council

7.9 The existing site currently provides a total of 680 jobs. The application proposes
a total floorspace of 22, 732sqm B1 office accommodation which would be
situated within Vauxhall Square West and Vauxhall Square East. The proposed
use would create a total of 1610 jobs.
7.10 Core Strategy Policy S3 (f) supports the location of, and investment in, major
office developments (over 1,000 m2) in the CAZ and London Plan Opportunity
Areas.
7.11 Saved UDP Policy 23 supports the implementation of Core Strategy policy. It
safeguards floorspace in B class use outside of Key Industrial and Business
Areas but allows, in section (b) (iii), that “exceptionally, where a scheme has
substantial other planning benefits and where development of part of a site is
compensated by, for example, increasing the amount of employment on the
remainder and/or providing modern small business units. The scheme should
include the maximum feasible proportion of employment floorspace.”
7.12 The development would provide a significant quantity of purpose built, new B1
office accommodation in place of outdated office and light industrial space. The
overall level of employment (number of jobs) made available in the new B1
floorspace would be higher than that in the existing accommodation. Other
uses on the site (retail, leisure, hotel) would also generate employment. Given
the wider mix of uses proposed in this scheme and their potential contribution to
the regeneration of Vauxhall, there is no policy concern in relation to the
proposed B1 office floorspace. The provision of new office accommodation as
part of a mixed use scheme is supported.
7.13 The applicant has provided assurances that the development would support a
total of 78 apprentices (starts/existing/completion) in line with the National Skills
Academy for Construction Benchmark. This equates to 7.8% of the average
annual operatives on-site. Furthermore, the applicant has agreed to provide a
payment of £75,000 towards local training in construction.
7.14 The applicant agrees to develop a jobs and training strategy with officers as the
Council develop their “Lambeth Working” strategy. As a minimum the jobs and
training strategy proposes:
- a single contact for all training and employment opportunities
- all job opportunities to be advertised with the local Lambeth Job Centre Plus
as least 96 hours prior to general release
- confirmation that the applicant would work with the council to maximise
business, employment and training opportunities for local people and
businesses
- a reporting regime to monitor the success of the jobs and training strategy.
Officers fully support the proposed training and apprenticeship opportunities the
development would bring as part of the development. Furthermore, officers
welcome the significant in jobs the office would bring to the local area, which
would improve the socio-economic opportunities to local businesses in Vauxhall.
This is fully supported and provides a regenerative benefit of the scheme.