Hello

I am writing to draw your attention to a sudden - and highly suspicious - rush of submissions to Wandsworth Council's planning portal in support of One Battersea Bridge. Thinking face emoji.

More than 270 letters have been filed in just SIX DAYS - between 10-16th September.  All have the exact same template of text offering effusive - and ill-informed - support for a project that has been derided by thousands of residents, community groups, and esteemed organisations.

A swathe of submissions give multiple names of inhabitants in the SAME blocks of flats or streets in Battersea. Laughably, some of the letters include the exact same typo. Many letters are from people as far afield as Cardiff, Plymouth, Rochdale, and  Stoke-on-Trent, who are quite taken by the glory of this tower.

In my humble opinion - and, of course, it is only my view - these submissions are utter b*ll*cks and worthless spam cynically motivated by a party close to the developers. But who and how have they done this?

Far be it from me to accuse Rockwell property developers of instigating such crass mass action, but I have written to its directors today asking if they have any insight into these letters. I have yet to receive a reply.

I am also bringing the matter to the attention of Wandsworth Council's planning department. I want to ensure that these letters are examined properly. If they are found to have been fraudulently submitted, then it is only right that they are deleted. A degree of rigour should apply to all 358 letters of support. 

With the above in mind, please note that there is still time to file your own letter of objection (or, indeed, support) to One Battersea Bridge.  You can post a note here.

Please do not leave it to others to step up. Every little objection counts. 

Also, if anyone knows how letters can be filed so speedily in volume like this, I would love to hear from them. Maybe there is someone in the property world with experience of such tactics. Contact me here.

For the above reasons I urge the council to grant its IT department permission to act. Delete.

Thank You

Rob McGibbon

An example of the template text in all recent letters of support...

Comment: I am writing in support of the proposals to transform the Glassmill office building at One Battersea Bridge, Wandsworth, into much-needed homes.

I support the redevelopment of underutilised brownfield sites like this one. It is highly energy inefficient and struggling for commercial viability, with the building either vacant or occupied on short term licenses below market rates.
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Comparably these plans will create 142 high quality homes, including 45 (35%) affordable homes that will help alleviate housing pressures in the borough.

The proposals have clear economic benefits: supporting local SMEs and creatives through the delivery of 4,964 sq. ft of affordable office space and delivering a new riverside restaurant at ground level, these plans will unlock the Battersea Bridge south side bringing new visitors boosting the local economy.

I also was pleased to learn about how aligned the application is with the community. With Rockwell having already begun conversations with local charities about occupying the 2,906 sq. ft of purpose-built community space included in the plans.

For the above reasons I support the application and urge you to grant consent.

Yours sincerely,

Phil Form