Author: Cyril Richert
Planning Applications Committee – Room 123
New era or continuity for the Planning Forum? The future will decide but so far the most visible change was a new Chair, as Cllr Sweet as been replaced by Cllr Guy Humphries (due to the last cabinet reshuffle) and probably the most relevant change was actually the proposal to have Community Groups involved within the draft of the next Local Plan through workshop(s). Continue reading
Author: Susan Lofthouse
A general view of Battersea Evolution in Battersea Park where the Conservative Black and White Ball is taking place. Acks. Getty images.
Planning application 2019/2488 is proposing the erection of a temporary building in (sic) the British Genius Site up to a Maximum Height of 12.4 metres (current height 9.5 metres) for a period of 4 years ending on 1st October 2023 (to be used for a variety of events in the Park.
Battersea Park is a Grade II listed Park, which, since its creation in the mid 19th Century, has been managed by various organisations such as the LCC (London County Council), the GLC (Greater London Council), and when that closed down, passing to the management of Wandsworth Borough Council. It is very important to understand this, since the Council does not own the Park. Continue reading
Authors: Cyril Richert & David Curran
The architectural practice Hawkins\Brown (the architect which designed the new Peabody estate on St John’s Hill) has unveiled last week their vision for Clapham Junction’s future. Their website reports work on a vision for the future of Clapham Junction, examining how an integrated approach to development can offer significant benefits to both the station and the wider Battersea area. Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
Yes, as many of you spotted, yesterday’s publication was of course specific to April fool’s day (the clue was in the date!)
However, independently of Wandsworth Council, we have analysed dozen of planning reports on major schemes and found many similarities used to dismiss objections. Words such as “on balance“, “landmark“, “benefits outweigh harm” seem to have been used, without moderation, to justify any possible scheme. Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
Exclusive revelation today by the Clapham Junction Action Group: Wandsworth Council is using an automatic tool to generate planning reports!
The information has been leaked by internal sources: in order to save time and money to reach decisions that have already been made behind closed doors by members of the cabinet, Wandsworth Council has set up an automatic planning report generator to be used by planning officers on some major strategic schemes.
Author: Cyril Richert
House of Commons – Friday 22 March 2019
Marsha De Cordova MP (Battersea, Labour)
Marsha de Cordova, MP for Battersea, secured a debate on Winstanley Estate Regeneration on March, 22nd (Citation: HC Deb, 22 March 2019, c1433).
There are interesting comments, mostly about the lack of social units in the scheme (currently council houses representing the majority of homes on the estate, while of the proposed 2,000 extra homes, just three will be council homes), while Wandsworth Council has nearly 7,000 families on its housing waiting list, and that the Council is accused of promoting “social engineering” within the Winstanley and York Road estates. We also learn that last year, 90% of the houses built in the borough were unaffordable private homes, while less than 3% were council homes.
Unfortunately Rishi Sunak, Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, refused to comment on the case and instead made a general statement about the government priority to build more affordable homes (missing the point raised about specifically social housing – not 80% of private market rent or shared-equity schemes) and praising the Tory leadership of Wandsworth.
You will find below a full transcript of the debate, with some specific parts highlighted when we found it appropriate (video is available HERE). Continue reading
Author: Cyril Richert
With all the new developments in Clapham Junction, but also in other parts of the borough (Nine Elms of course) you may wonder if there is an incentive for the borough. No need to keep in suspense, the answer is yes. We have carried out a thorough comparison with neighbouring boroughs and Wandsworth is actually crushing the competition! Continue reading
