Pilbrow & Partners have revealed a £2 billion mixed-use scheme centred on four towers up to 70 storeys high at Vauxhall Square, setting a new height record for residential buildings in Nine Elms and promising over 3,000 homes alongside hotel, office, and retail space.
Pilbrow & Partners have unveiled ambitious plans for a £2 billion residential-led development on one of central London’s largest undeveloped sites at Vauxhall Square in the Nine Elms district. The scheme proposes four towers ranging from 16 to 70 storeys, with the tallest residential tower set to be among the highest in the UK, surpassing previous plans by 20 storeys. This major redevelopment aims to deliver over 3,000 homes in total, alongside a mix of co-living units, student accommodation, a hotel, office space, retail, and leisure facilities.
The 1.46-hectare site has long been a focus of stalled development. The new proposals replace an earlier design by Allies & Morrison, which had been approved in 2013 but only partially realised. That initial scheme included nine residential buildings with two towers reaching 50 storeys. Since then, a portion of the site was developed for student housing by a different developer, but much of the land remained vacant. The project has changed ownership multiple times, most recently acquired by Cedarstone Capital Partners and Bmor with financing from Cheyne Capital.
Pilbrow & Partners’ design centres the four towers—16, 19, 41, and 70 storeys—around a landscaped park of 4,200 square metres, intended as the "heart of a new centre for Vauxhall." The residential mix includes 1,200 conventional apartments, 1,250 co-living units tailored for shared living, and 600 student beds. Additionally, a 260-room hotel and substantial office and retail spaces form part of the integrated community envisaged for the area.
This development forms part of the broader regeneration wave reshaping Nine Elms, a neighbourhood becoming synonymous with high-rise living and mixed-use schemes. Nearby projects such as One Nine Elms feature prominent towers—56 and 42 storeys—that combine luxury residences with hotel accommodations, including a Park Hyatt-branded hotel with high-end amenities such as ballrooms, pools, and spas. In comparison, Vauxhall Square’s tallest proposed tower at 70 storeys would significantly contribute to the London skyline and set a new local benchmark for residential heights.
While the earlier Allies & Morrison scheme was tied to CLS Holdings and progressed only partially, the latest iteration spearheaded by Pilbrow & Partners and its development partners reflects renewed confidence in the site’s potential. The full planning application is expected to be submitted to Lambeth Council in the summer, marking a pivotal step towards realising one of Nine Elms’ largest and tallest residential developments.
If materialised, the project’s gross development value is estimated at approximately £2 billion, with construction costs around £880 million. It promises to deliver a diverse urban community with amenities and landscaping that respond to growing demand for mixed-use living environments in London’s central districts.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents new plans for a £2 billion residential-led development at Vauxhall Square, featuring four towers ranging from 16 to 70 storeys. This development is a redesign of a previously approved scheme from 2013, which had been partially realised. The earliest known publication date of similar content is April 17, 2025, when Pilbrow & Partners replaced Allies & Morrison as the lead architect for the Vauxhall Square development, with plans to increase the towers' height to 70 storeys. ([building.co.uk](https://www.building.co.uk/news/developers-to-boost-height-of-vauxhall-towers-scheme-to-70-storeys-after-replacing-lead-architect/5135565.article?utm_source=openai)) The narrative includes updated data, such as the specific heights of the proposed towers and the inclusion of co-living units and student accommodation, which were not part of the earlier scheme. This update justifies a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The report includes a reference map with links to related articles, indicating that the content is original and not recycled. However, the narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative does not appear to be republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. Overall, the freshness score is 8.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative does not include any direct quotes. The absence of quotes suggests that the content is potentially original or exclusive. The lack of direct quotes may also indicate that the information is paraphrased from the press release or other sources. Overall, the quotes score is 9.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from Building Design Online, a reputable organisation in the architecture and construction industry. However, the report is based on a press release, which may not always provide the most objective perspective. The press release is attributed to Pilbrow & Partners, the lead architect, which may present a biased view. The narrative does not mention any third-party verification or independent sources. Overall, the source reliability score is 7.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents a plausible development plan for Vauxhall Square, aligning with ongoing regeneration efforts in the Nine Elms area. The inclusion of co-living units and student accommodation reflects current trends in urban development. The development's scale and proposed amenities are consistent with other projects in the area, such as One Nine Elms, which features a 56-storey residential tower and a 42-storey hotel. ([kpf.com](https://www.kpf.com/project/one-nine-elms?utm_source=openai)) The narrative does not include any surprising or impactful claims that are not covered elsewhere. The language and tone are consistent with typical corporate or official language. Overall, the plausibility score is 8.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents a plausible and original development plan for Vauxhall Square, with updated data and no discrepancies found. The source is reputable, and the content aligns with ongoing regeneration efforts in the Nine Elms area. The absence of direct quotes suggests potential originality or exclusivity. Overall, the assessment is positive, with a high confidence level.
