Officials have scrapped plans to allow a 20-storey tower block to be built in a South London suburb. Lambeth Council earmarked Knollys Yard in West Norwood as suitable for a 68-metre-tall building in an investment plan last year. 

But residents living in two-storey houses surrounding the proposed tower branded it a "monster," which would "destroy the character of the local area" and cause "traffic chaos and reduced air quality." 

Lambeth has now dropped plans for the building and shelved a blueprint for the development of Knollys Yard completely from its site development plan (SADPD).

In a letter to local residents and businesses, Cllr Danny Adilypour, the council's cabinet member for sustainable growth and new homes, said: "On Site 19 at Knollys Yard, some residents raised concerns about the height and scale of the proposals during the consultation. 

"As I've made clear in my meetings with local residents, whilst a planning application may still be brought forward by a party at any time and go through due process in line with the council's planning policies, I recognise the community's concerns and I have therefore asked the planning team to remove Site 19 from the SADPD."

The purpose of the SADPD is to identify sites in the borough for development. The draft document published in January 2022 said Knollys Yard presented: "a significant opportunity for local regeneration to provide new, high quality light industrial space appropriate for businesses in key Lambeth growth sectors such as the creative, digital and low carbon industries."

Officials said the triangular site, which is surrounded by railway lines, was suitable for one 68-metre tower and two smaller towers rising to 40 metres and 34 metres above the ground. 

The hilly geography of the site means the buildings would appear significantly higher, the tallest reaching 115 metres above sea level. Surrounding trees such as Leigham Vale and Harpenden Road surrounding the site are made up of two-storey terraced houses.

The council has also agreed to scale down its proposals to redevelop homes and businesses in West Norwood and Tulse Hill. The council's draft investment plan had earmarked a rectangular strip of land boarded by Norwood Road, York Hill and Lansdowne Hill for new homes and offices. 

Cllr Adilypour, who is deputy leader of the council, said the revised SADPD would drop the redevelopment of homes at the northern and southern sides of the site. He said: "I have heard the concerns about the potential redevelopment of homes and businesses within the current Site 18 boundary on Norwood Road. 

"I have therefore asked for the current boundary to be redrawn and I am making it clear that we will exclude the housing areas at the northern and southern ends of the site."

The revised SADPD is expected to be published towards the end of summer 2023.