Author: Cyril Richert
Planning Applications Committee – Room 123
The new format of the Planning Forum meeting, instigated by Cllr Will Sweet (who is also chair of the Planning Application Committee) last January, allowed once again to dedicate a large part of the time to items raised by Forum members. The main discussion, based on CJAG’s suggestion, was about planning reforms. Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
As usual when I attend the Clapham Junction Town Centre Partnership (business associations) meeting, I give a quick feedback on some specific points that were discussed.
Most of the meeting was focused on the progress of the Business Improvement District for Clapham Junction. Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
New façade of the Alchemist pub in St John’s Hill
The façade of the Fishmonger/Alchemist pub in St John’s Hill has been “restored” with an additional element on the left of the original building. The Council is now claiming that it has been “restored back to its original Victorian-era splendour after the council took legal action to force the developer to rebuild it“.
However in reality the initial planning permission to knock down the façade and rebuild was refused, the developers did it anyway, then submitted a retrospective application similar to their original one, this time approved by the Council. Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
London Assembly – Planning Committee – 27-06-2018
The London Assembly Planning Committee was discussing tall buildings this Wednesday 27 June at 11 10 am. As the meeting is open to the public, it was an occasion to attend (but it was also possible to watch online).
The purpose was to debate on the recommendations set out in a report of the Executive Director of Secretariat relating to the growth of applications for tall buildings and their implications for draft London Plan policy.
It is interesting to quote the Committee position (in the report 3.4-):
“The Committee has consistently recommended that Mayoral planning policy is strengthened to restrict the location of London’s tall buildings and improve their design and scrutiny of potential alternative design configuration. Moreover, the Committee agrees that tall residential buildings are not an answer to London’s real housing needs and as such should not be encouraged outside of a few designated and carefully managed areas of London.”
In a nutshell, more or less what CJAG (and Societies in Wandsworth borough) has said for a long time already, unfortunately without any consideration (except maybe when the Council’s spokesperson saying we were nimbyes!). Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
Following the initial consultation in 2013, the Council has presented several exhibitions (so-called “consultations”) of what Ravi Govindia calls now “the vision created with the help of the local residents“.
As the leader of the Council might reveal soon the 50+ storey landmark that he is planning for the area (nicknamed Govindia Wharf) this is interesting to see the difference between what local residents responded to and the current presentations.
Board presenting the result of the consultation in 2013
Evolution of the size of the leisure centre proposal from 2013 to 2018
Evolution of the size of the Grant Road proposal from 2013 to 2018
Evolution of the size of the main Winstanley blocks proposal from 2013 to 2018
Do you think this is a definition of “taking into account the result of consultation“?
And by the way, this is Winstanley & York estates in 2018:
Winstanley & York Road estates in 2018
Author: Cyril Richert
Soon a new 20 storey towers in Lombard Road?
And another one! Thanks to Wandsworth Council series of approval, 20 storey towers become now the norm (or a starting point) for developers in York Road area.
Big Yellow Self-Storage Company has submitted a screening application (p.a. 2018/2369) for demolition of the existing buildings and redevelopment of the site with 168 residential units in stepped buildings up to 20 storeys in height, a new self-storage warehouse unit, approximately 79 new car parking and 336 cycle spaces within a basement, landscaping, and formation of new public space and pedestrian and vehicular access. Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
Neal’s Lodge on Wandsworth Common
Wandsworth Council appeal against the High Court’s judgement on Neal’s Lodge has been unanimously rejected by the three Court of Appeal judges. Further appeal to the Supreme Court has been refused. Continue reading
