Dear All

Unless you have been dozing under a mossy rolling stone, you will have heard that Rockwell Property has appealed to the government's Planning Inspector against Wandsworth Council's unanimous decision to refuse its planning application to build a pile of money by Battersea Bridge.

If this comes as a surprise to you, The Chelsea Citizen has the whole sorry story. 

The appeal is hugely disappointing. Rockwell clearly has no regard for the views of the council, its planning experts, thousands of residents and the multitude of respected groups and independent experts who have voiced a litany of detailed reasons that reveal this scheme to be an unwanted, cynically-driven dud.

The appeal process causes extra work for determined, but weary campaigners (Yours Truly, Friends of Battersea Riverside, The Chelsea Society, Cheyne Walk Trust and many, many others), but most importantly it will also put huge strain on the resources and finances for Wandsworth Council (WC) and the government.

Rockwell has instigated an EIGHT DAY public inquiry, a staggering amount of public time. It is believed that they are spending more than £1m on this challenge. Certainly, WC will probably have to flush more than that down the WC. A King's Counsel alone is expected to charge £360,000+. 

As anyone who cares about public services will know, WC's money could be better spent (eg: on social housing!). It is slightly easier for Rockwell to blow this kind of cash. After all, it is largely financing this venture with loans via a tax canny investment fund colossus based in the sunny and secretive BVIs. We are following this money closely at The Chelsea Citizen (did I mention this online newspaper?), so sign up to our brilliant Newsletter here, folks.

If you filed an objection to the scheme to WC's planning portal, then it will be forwarded to the Planning Inspector. But you can lodge new objections. Some advice below. 

Comments should be filed to the government portal HERE – citing the reference number 6002127 – by midnight on 27th January. Hurry.

In the spirit of impartiality, I should note that comments of Support can also be filed. So - Mr Ivor Noidea in Havant-a-Clue and Obi-Wan Kenobi on Isle of Skye Walker, get writing about your love for the tower. If in doubt, ask Rockwell for its template.

Oh, by that way - do tune into The Chelsea Citizen which will be covering the run-up to this appeal hearing in detail. Quality local journalism MATTERS

Thank you for reading. In closing, I would like to summon the spirit of mad Don from Sexy Beast as we embark on the next leg of this battle. No-no-no-no-no-no-NO! 

Put this tower in the ground. RM

SOME POINTS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO MENTION  

• It’s too big for this riverside site and out of character with the area.
• It would harm the Thames Path experience and important local views, and risk harm to nearby heritage settings.
• Neighbours would lose daylight and privacy and face more overshadowing; future residents may have poor light and outlook.
• Extra pressure on buses, trains, and parking, plus disruptive and unsafe servicing/construction on narrow streets and along the Thames Path.
• Claims of “50% affordable homes” are not credible without transparent viability and binding Section 106 obligations, especially for social rent. Rockwell will get a £470,000 GLA grant per unit for the flats for social rent. So, how much will they actually spend NET on their altruistic "solve the housing crisis" endeavour?! We should be told.
• The design and sustainability measures are not good enough for a high-profile river-edge scheme.
• What protections are in place should Battersea Bridge be damaged during construction?
• This proposal completely conflicts with the Local Plan and London Plan.