South Bank neighbourhood planning area gets Lambeth approval

South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours – a group made up of local businesses and residents – applied to both Lambeth and Southwark councils for designation as a qualifying body for the purpose of drawing up a neighbourhood plan under the Localism Act.

The group wants to draw up a planning policy document for an area spanning the Lambeth / Southwark boundary.

The plan – which is subject to approval at a referendum of local residents and businesses – would cover the area between Lambeth Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge, stretching inland to St George's Circus.

Lambeth has now given the green light for the process to move forward with its territory, but Southwark must reach a separate decision on the eastern portion of the proposed area, part of which overlaps with the previously designated Bankside Neighbourhood Forum.

Cllr Pete Robbins, Lambeth's cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said that it was up to Southwark to reconcile the objections on its side of the boundary.

Lambeth's deputy leader Cllr Jackie Meldrum described the South Bank and Waterloo as "an important part of the borough".

• Find out more about the South Bank & Waterloo neighbourhood forum at www.sowneighbours.org