Plans for an ambitious £2 billion residential development at Vauxhall Square have been unveiled, signalling a transformative shift for the Nine Elms area and central London’s skyline.
The scheme, submitted to Lambeth Council, promises to deliver one of the tallest residential clusters in the United Kingdom, injecting new energy into a site long considered underutilised.
The development is proposed by Pilbrow & Partners, and envisions a striking cluster of towers along the Vauxhall skyline, with the tallest residential tower at 69 storeys.
This tower will be joined by two other 61-storey buildings, alongside additional towers rising 45, 20, and 17 storeys respectively.
The heights mark a significant escalation from previous designs, notably surpassing a prior Allies & Morrison proposal that was capped at 50 storeys.
The development approaches record heights, but it remains just shy of the UK’s tallest residential building. The Landmark Pinnacle in Canary Wharf currently holds the title at 75 storeys.
The scheme intends to deliver approximately 3,000 homes with a diverse range of living options. This includes generous market-sale apartments featuring double-height ceilings and panoramic views over the River Thames, providing a luxury lifestyle offer.
Meanwhile, around 35% of these units are earmarked as affordable housing.
The 20-storey tower will contain 122 social rent homes, reflecting the developers’ commitment to addressing local housing needs and ensuring a mixed community emerges from the project.
Beyond residential functions, the development is designed as a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood. Plans include:
- A 230-room hotel catering to visitors and business travellers.
- Office and flexible commercial spaces to foster employment opportunities.
- A 1,650 square metre gym facility.
- Retail units woven into the streetscape.
- Extensive co-living and student accommodation to serve varying demographic groups.
One of the 61-storey towers will house 1,164 co-living units alongside the gym and retail spaces, while the 45-storey tower is slated to accommodate 700 student beds coupled with commercial uses.
Central to the scheme is a substantial 4,200 square metre landscaped green space designed by Exterior Architecture.
This public realm feature will offer mature trees, children’s play areas, seating, and social hubs intended to foster community interaction within an increasingly urbanised environment.
Such a green sanctuary aims to revitalise a site that has sat largely vacant for nearly a decade, embedding nature into the heart of development and enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
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