Hello Fellow Campaigners
Many of you will have received a letter from Wandsworth Council asking you to comment about the revised planning application submitted by Rockwell for One Battersea Bridge.
I have just received further advice from a senior planning officer at the council who says that it is BETTER to add new comments. As details of the planning app have changed, the council may dismiss previous comments. We cannot risk this happening.
This is a crazy situation because the deadline to re-submit is 21st November.
I have just filed my new objections. I am pasting the text below to help others craft their submissions.
As far as I am concerned NOTHING has changed since Rockwell reduced the tower to 28 storeys (PLUS ground floor) and increased social rent housing to 50%. Many see that play as a slam dunk to getting planning permission. I do not.
This is still an ill-conceived, deplorable development which shows utter disdain for the local area. It is simply using a tower of money to make more money.
I urge you to re-submit your Objection Comments ASAP and make sure you are heard.
Regards
Rob M.
https://planning2.wandsworth.gov.uk/planningcase/comments.aspx?case=2024/1322
Sir,
Despite the amendments to the original planning application, I still whole-heartedly and vehemently oppose this development for a multitude of reasons. These include:
- the scale and height of the development is way out of proportion for the Glassmill site. That small plot of land simply cannot absorb this degree of building works. At the revised 28 storeys - plus a double height ground floor - it is still WAY TOO BIG.
- the change to 50% social rent housing is welcome, but I question how the council will actually enforce the delivery of this percentage. What happens if the developer Rockwell changes the rules, which can often happen during a lengthy build? Will a water-tight, legally binding agreement be in place from the outset? Who will oversee such a contract?
- no real detail exists as regards multiple aspects of the delivery of the build process. Too much is poorly schemed and researched. Serious questions need to be asked. For example, the time scale as stated by Rockwell is not realistic or believable.
- Battersea Bridge - as a vital route into London and as a Grade II listed structure - simply cannot cope with this scale of works. The knock-on effects will be disastrous for traffic and the local environment.
- the loss of light to buildings in Hester Road.
- the eyesore of such a high tower and its ruinous effect on the riverside vista, as seen from all points locally. Please refer to detailed and careful representations from ALL local society groups and Historic England.
- the fact that building a tower of this size flies in the face of the council's (expensively produced) 2023 Local Plan guide on tall buildings. How can such guidance be wilfully dismissed to allow this project? It will make a nonsense of the Local Plan.
- giving permission to this tower will set a terrible precedent that will - without doubt - be exploited by other developers. Look at the calamity of multiple high rise blocks in Vauxhall.
- absolutely no provision or concern is being given to the effect on local amenities. How can such a vast influx of properties and residents be supported by the council? Why is this critical element not addressed in the planning application?
My final point is that the council and the GLA must not be blinded by the offer of 50% social housing to push this through. There must be a better way to provide housing than blighting such a special river vista, and causing unfettered disruption to thousands of residents and visitors for YEARS - all for the sake of 54 apartments.
I urge the council to dismiss this planning application and begin a process of finding a development for the Glassmill site that does not involve a property developer exploiting it for such transparent financial gain.
The One Battersea Bridge proposal is irredeemably toxic on every conceivable level - including politically - and should be consigned to the bin.
Regards
RMc.