COUNCIL MOVES TO DECISIONS ON LILIAN BAYLIS, BEAUFOY AND OTHER SITES
From RCDT ENews/Events Bulletin 9 March 2007
Lambeth Council’s Cabinet Committee on Thursday 15 March is considering the future of the former Lilian Baylis School, Beaufoy Institute and other sites in a paper ‘Prince’s Ward Investment Strategy’. It will then be considered by the North Lambeth Area Committee on 21 March.
Lilian Baylis Proposals: part community use for health, sports and recreation, relocation of Ethelred Nursery and Children Centre, young people’s provision, decant for Charles Edward Brooke School to support implementation of Lambeth’s Building School for the Future 2009-2013, sale of part of site for housing.
Beaufoy Institute and land proposals: sale of whole site on open market with buyers having to demonstrate their proposals meet the Institute covenant, and address local housing needs.
Lollard St Adventure Playground and Ethelred Youth Club: Re-provision of facilities to meet modern day needs on the former Lilian Baylis site.
Consultation. Para 2.8 states: ‘The above recommendations are indirect response to consultation and research of community needs.’ The consultation schedule lists Council officers and Councillors. A Community Reference Group is to be established led by Ward Councillors ‘with the key intention that the local community are positively involved and fairly represented’. (para 2.12)
Healthy Living Centre: Investigation under way at potential to relocate resources form Stockwell YMCA Healthy Living Centre.
Key Dates: March: start of design, financial and risk assessments. April: community safety tests in designs, formation of Community Reference Group, exploration of sustainable management models for site and service provisions. May: completion of financial assessment, completion of recommendation options fort sites’ redevelopment/disposal. June complete site and service management options; identify delivery models for next stage of works. July proposals to Cabinet for decision.
Preliminary Comment (by Sean Creighton): It appears that the proposals mean that:
- the temporary use by Charles Brooke School will prevent a comprehensive redevelopment strategy for the Lilian Baylis site being acted upon with speed; leaving continuing uncertainty for several years
- that additional sites (Adventure Playground, Ethelred Youth Club and Ethelred Nursery/Children’s Centre) would become available for redevelopment
The paper does not address other asset investment issues such as:
- the future of 100 Vauxhall Walk and Vauxhall Gdns Community Centre – which appears to be in limbo again
- the regeneration strategy for the Council owned shopping parades at Lambeth Walk and Vauxhall St/Jonathan St
The paper can be seen on the Cabinet page of the Committee Minutes. Reports and Agenda page through the Community & Democracy section of the Council website: www.lambeth.gov.uk