- Decision
- allowed, 14 September 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: R Major
- Authority
- Lambeth (London)
- Appeal reference
- 6010838
- Application reference
- 26/00295/FUL
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Removal of an InLink unit and a replacement BT Street Hub 3 unit on the footway (appeal A; advertisement appeal B 6010837 for two 75-inch digital screens also allowed)
- Site context
- inside settlement
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- S4, TR6, TR4
- Development plan policies
- Lambeth Local Plan 2020-2035 Q17, T1, T2, T3, T9, London Plan 2021 T4
- Main issues
- highway and pedestrian safety (A); public safety (B)
Summary
Replacing a BT InLink unit on Denmark Hill, outside King's College Hospital's Faraday Building, with a slightly larger Street Hub and digital screens. The 3.3 m clear footway met inclusive mobility guidance, and the Council's accident data did not show the existing unit distracted drivers. With no adverse effects, S3 and S4 indicated approval. Both appeals allowed.
Issues and findings
- Footway. "This gap of 3.3m would meet the required technical stipulations in respect of width clearance guidance contained within the inclusive mobility guidance document" (DL ¶15).
- Accidents. "I do not find that the accident record data provided by the Council is evidence that the proposed, larger, unit would cause a distraction to road users" (DL ¶22).
- Framework. "I find no conflict with Policy TR6 of the Framework. I also find no conflict with Policy TR4 of the Framework where it states that proposals should minimise the scope for conflict between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles." (DL ¶26).
Planning balance
"I conclude that there are no adverse effects arising from the proposal when assessed against the national decision-making policies in the Framework and consequently Policies S3 and S4 of the Framework indicate that the proposal should be approved." (DL ¶37).
What made the difference
A like-for-like replacement on the same footprint, with measured footway clearance and no causal link between the existing unit and the accident record. Contrast Turnpike Lane PINS-6003086, where a new hub added clutter.
Transferable points
- Collision data must be linked to the feature in question to support a distraction objection (DL ¶21-22).
- Inclusive Mobility clearance is a material benchmark for footway obstruction (DL ¶15).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| TR6 | pass | no unacceptable impact on highway safety; accident data for 2017-2025 not linked to the existing unit (DL 20-22, 26) | |
| TR4 | pass | 3.3 m clear footway meets Inclusive Mobility; pedestrians including wheelchair users not forced into the road (DL 14-19, 26) | |
| S4 | pass | no adverse effects, so S3 and S4 indicate approval (DL 36-37) |
Key facts
- Replacement hub 346 mm wider and slightly taller than the InLink unit, same footprint (DL 12)
- Bus lane used by cyclists beside a three-lane A215 (DL 8)
- Advertisement consent for five years only; 10-year request refused (DL 33-35)
Sources
This note is one of the decisions behind the NPPF 2026 Navigator, which shows how each Framework test has been applied across all the decisions in the database. Also available as Markdown.