Mayor of London logo London Assembly logo
Home
VNEB on a map

Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea Opportunity Area

The Vauxhall, Nine Elms, Battersea Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF) sets out the vision for new homes, jobs, cultural quarter and linear park to bring new life to an area on the edge of London’s Central Activities Zone.

Key information

Borough(s) LB Lambeth, LB Wandsworth
London Plan designation year 2004
Growth corridor Central London Growth Corridor
OA boundary and policy status Adopted
Local planning documents Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea OAPF (2012)
Key transport projects

Lambeth Bridge roundabouts

Proposed Nine Elms Lane and Battersea Park Road changes

Vauxhall Cross gyratory
London Plan AMR Category (AMR, 2018) Underway

 

Growth corridors make it easier to manage development in London as they group similar or nearby OAs

OA boundary and policy status will either be: 'Adopted', 'Emerging' or 'To be defined'

London planning documents are accurate at the tie on publication. These include key planning documents that directly relate to the OA. They must be read in the context of the relevant statutory planning policies contained within the borough’s Local Plan.

London Plan AMR Category (AMR, 2018) will either be: 'Nascent', 'Ready to grow', 'Underway', 'Maturing' or 'Mature'.

Overview of the OA

Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea (VNEB) is identified in the Mayor’s London Plan1 as an Opportunity Area (OA) with potential for 18,500 new homes and 18,500 new jobs by 20412. The OA was designated in 2004 and is part of the Central London Growth Corridor. See Figure 1 and 2.

What is an Opportunity Area (OA)?

Opportunity Areas or OAs are London's key locations that have potential for large scale development, providing substantial new jobs and homes. OAs typically have capacity for at least 2,500 homes or 5,000 jobs, and many are linked to potential public transport improvements.

1 The London Plan is the statutory Spatial Development Strategy for London. As the overall strategic plan for London, it sets out an integrated economic, environmental, transport and social framework for the development of London over the next 20-25 years.

2 Figures based on London Plan evidence. Homes figures are based on 2017 Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA, 2017) for the period 2019 – 2041. Jobs figures are based on London Employment Sites Database (LESD, 2017) for the period 2016 – 2041.

 

Back to top

How many new homes have been delivered?

Since 20191, over 2,000 new homes were completed in VNEB OA2. Since the OA was designated in 2004, over 10,000 new homes have been completed2. See Figure 3 and 4.

1The London Plan 2021 homes figures are based on the SHLAA (2017) evidence and capacity from 2019 to 2041. As such, 2019 is used as the starting point for measuring housing completions in the OA. Source: Strategic Housing Land Availability (SHLAA, 2017).

2 Source: London Datahub, Greater London Authority.

 

Back to top

How many of these new homes are affordable?

Of the total new homes completed in VNEB since its designation, approximately 20% of these new homes are considered affordable homes2. See Figure 7 and 8.

1The London Plan 2021 homes figures is based on the SHLAA, 2017 evidence and capacity from 2019 to 2041. As such, 2019 is used as the starting point for measuring housing completions in the OA. Source: Strategic Housing Land Availability (SHLAA, 2017).

2 Source: London Datahub, Greater London Authority.

 

Back to top

Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea OAPF

About the OAPF

The Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea Opportunity Area Planning Framework (VNEB OAPF) sets out an ambition for around 16,000 new homes and a range of 20,000 - 25,000 jobs. These totals have risen as the planning applications have been submitted and the buildings started to take shape.

The OAPF contains proposals for:

  • an extension to the Northern Line from Kennington to Battersea via Nine Elms (now underway and due for completion in 2020)
  • a new linear park connecting Vauxhall to Battersea Power Station
  • a tall buildings strategy which supports an emerging cluster at Vauxhall
  • and the creation of a Combined Cooling and Heat Power network

A Development Infrastructure Funding Study was undertaken, which informed the advancement of a Section 106 tariff to fund the full range of infrastructure required to support new development. The new district is already taking shape, with landmark developments, such as the Embassy Gardens centred on the new US Embassy building, under construction.

 

Public consultation

The draft VNEB OAPF went out for consultation in November 2009. The revised chapter 12: Section 106/CIL went out for consultation in February 2011. The documents from both of these consultations are available to download.

The framework set out an ambition for around 16,000 new homes and a range of 20,000 - 25,000 jobs. However, these totals have risen as the planning applications have been submitted and the buildings started to take shape.

 

OAPF Documents

The VNEB OAPF is available to download here: Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea Opportunity Area Planning Framework

Several major reports were also commissioned to support the VNEB OAPF. These are available to download below.

Next steps to monitoring progress in the OA

The London Datahub is the GLA's main source of development data. The Datahub holds detailed information on planning applications, permissions, commencements and completions in Greater London enabling the tracking of development progress across London. The data received is supplied by applicants for planning permissions and may be subject to inherent issues and errors. For more information on how the data is collected please see the Planning London Datahub.

While delivering affordable homes and creating and protecting jobs are key components of the London Plan, the Mayor also recognises that future development in the city must be sustainable and inclusive.

The London Plan, therefore, sets out a new way of doing things, something that is called Good Growth. Good Growth is about working to delivery a more socially integrated and sustainable city, where people have more of a say, and growth brings the best out of existing places while providing opportunities to communities. Good Growth is not about supporting growth at any cost.

To understand the impact of the London Plan, the Mayor is legally required to keep the London Plan under review. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the approach to monitoring the Plan is set out in its final chapter and provides the basis for an ongoing and iterative assessment of the effectiveness of the Plan. Performance against the KPIs is reported in the statutory Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) which is published by the Mayor each Spring.

In additon to monitoring the progress of homes, jobs and infrastructure, the AMR will also monitor a range of other data that relates to the Good Growth objectives and the Mayor's vison for London to be socially and economically inclusive and environmentally sustainable. These will be measured through a combination of KPIs listed in Table 12.1 of the London Plan 2021 and other performance measures which will be developed as part of the London Plan AMR.

Other revelant OAs

How can we improve this OA webpage?

This webpage is updated frequently. If there are any inaccuracies or if you would like to suggest improvements, please send your feedback to [email protected]

Need a document on this page in an accessible format?

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of a PDF or other document on this page in a more accessible format, please get in touch via our online form and tell us which format you need.

It will also help us if you tell us which assistive technology you use. We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.