Section 20 First Tier Tribunal Process
The Council is proposing to extend the current agreement with Veolia Environmental Services Southwark Ltd (VESS) to supply heat to some communal heating and hot water systems via the South East London Combined Heat and Power (SELCHP) plant in South Bermondsey until 2050.
The Council is also proposing to extend this agreement to provide heating and hot water to more housing estates including Brimmington, Acorn, Cossall, Bells Gardens, Sceaux Gardens, North Peckham and Gloucester Grove.
This project requires the First Tier Tribunal to grant the Council dispensation from consultation requirements contained within Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (as amended). This dispensation is required because SELCHP is the only possible supplier of heat into the network, and the contract will be procured as a contract for services additional to the Council’s Waste Collection and Disposal Contract with Veolia Environmental Services Southwark (VESS) as required by an agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in association with that contract.
On 03/09/2025 a notice was served on all homeowners under Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (as amended) setting out the scope of the contract, and why the council believed it to be beneficial to homeowners.
On 08/10/2025 the Council submitted the application for dispensation to the First Tier Tribunal.
This page contains all the relevant information and documents in relation to this application, and will be updated as the application progresses through the tribunal
Thank you
09/12/25 Update:
Paper copies of the Amended Directions issued by the First Tier Tribunal have been left at the following locations:
- Sceaux Gardens – Marie Curie TRA Hall (SE5 7DH)
- Gloucester Grove TMO Office (SE15 6QD)
- Acorn – Dene Community Centre (SE15 2TU)
06/01/26 Update:
Court hearing date now set for 18th February 2026, 10:00 am.
Details in document: 20251231- Notice of Hearing date letter to Applicant
17/02/26 Update:
Court hearing set for tomorrow.
New document uploaded: Skeleton Argument - Southwark v Various Leaseholders (SELCHP)
20/02/26 Update:
A new date for the Court hearing has been set: 11th March 2026, 10:00 am
The hearing will take place using the Cloud Video Platform ("CVP"), via the following video link:
https://meet.video.justice.gov.uk/go/97fbbe4b-89cc-4baf-b18c-a2c61c561440/
New documents uploaded:
- Leaseholders of various Southwark estates directions
- 20260219- Invite letter to parties for 11 March 2026 hearing
08/04/26 Update:
On 12 March 2026, the First-tier Tribunal approved Southwark Council’s request to extend its existing heating and hot water agreement supplied by the SELCHP energy facility.
The decision allows the contract to run until 2050 and to expand the service to additional estates, bringing reliable, low‑carbon heating and hot water to more homes.
The Tribunal accepted that there is only one viable supplier for the area and that the Council followed a fair consultation approach wherever possible. It also found that the extended scheme is expected to reduce energy costs compared with gas systems, support long‑term affordability, and cause no disadvantage to leaseholders.
Many thanks for the homeowners engaging and attending the court hearing. This is a major step in advancing the Council decarbonisation strategy, reducing reliance on the gas market and lowering heating costs to its residents.