Author: Cyril Richert

Ram Quarter – 2021 – Credit: Google Map

Chinese investment has been a booster for many property developments in London, and a huge funder for Wandsworth Council for more than a decade.

However, the recent Chinese property market financial difficulties have had dramatic consequences abroad, over pressure from the Chinese authorities to pull out from foreign spending to concentrate on inland projects.

Shanghai-based Greenland Holdings, which owns the Ram Brewery development site in Wandsworth, has now sold the project, reported the FT last week. They said:

“Greenland is now backing away from completing the scheme having sold more than 300 homes. It has sold the remainder of the project to British housebuilder Berkeley Group for about £40mn, according to two people close to the deal.”

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Author: Cyril Richert

Tower proposed by developers on Ram Brewery site.

A new planning application (2014/4143) was received for the land located at former Ram brewery site, Wandsworth High Street, to increase the height of the tower by 2.7m and to provide an additional 14 residential units within the block. Continue reading →

Author: Cyril Richert

A computer image of Ram Brewery site in Wandsworth with 36-storey tower and flats, as displayed by the Evening Standard

The news came at a shock for many, as yesterday it was announced that Greenland Group, the giant state-owned Chinese property developer has bought the Ram Brewery site, Britain’s oldest brewery (beer had been brewed at the site continuously since 1576 and the Young’s Brewery opened in 1831). Continue reading →

Author: Cyril Richert

As you might know, Councillors have to fill a form stating their personal interests and declare any potential conflict that could be suspected of altering their decisions during their council’s role.

It is therefore very disturbing to discover the link between the chair of WBC Planning Application Committee (PAC) and large developers, including Minerva, owner of the Ram Brewery site. Continue reading →

Author: Cyril Richert

At the beginning of August, the Mayor of London approved the permission granted by Wandsworth Borough Council (WBC) for the Ram Brewery Site. Actually Boris Johnson being on holiday, this is Edward Lister, the Deputy Mayor & Chief of Staff, who took the decision with delegation.

Therefore, former Wandsworth Council leader Ed Lister, who approved the first proposal for the Ram Brewery site (before to be refused by the Secretary of States), and went before Wandsworth Council Planning Application Committee to support the case, has acted also as the final judge for London’s decision! Continue reading →

Author: Cyril Richert

The Mayor of London has decided to approve Wandsworth Council on the Ram Brewery decision to grant planning permission on Wednesday 7 August.

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Author: Julia Matcham with Simon Ford, Lynne Bartlett and a few others

On Tuesday, 23rd July 2013, the Planning Application Committee approved the new planning proposal for the Ram Brewery during a special meeting, with only the 2 Labour councillors voting against. Tory councillors found excuses such as Wandsworth Town station is congested because passengers gathered in the wrong place and expected to get in the nearest coach, some building could be excluded from the gas golder risk zone because not many people will live in them, no-one will notice the 36-storey tower when they are out shopping there… all good lines to make the gallery laugh, but it was sadly the future of the borough at stake.

The gallery was full, plus an extra row in front and a few people trying to see from the door.

Committee meeting room 123 (on the left the Tory Councillors, on the right, the Labour, at the end the Chair surrounded by the officers.

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Author: Cyril Richert

Next Tuesday, 23rd July 2013, the Planning Application Committee will attend an extraordinary meeting to approve the new planning proposal for the Ram Brewery.

Committee meeting room 123 (on the left the Tory Councillors, on the right, the Labour, at the end the Chair surrounded by the officers.

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Author: Cyril Richert

Wide-angle images have been used for a long time by developers. This is a fact that they distort perspective and therefore tall buildings appear further away or smaller than they are or would be in reality. However, architects might use them in order to provide information for the scheme such as number of buildings and panorama views. Miller Hare, a leading expert on the field, explains: “it is logical to use a wide angle lens in order to include additional context in the print“. Continue reading →

Author: Cyril Richert

It has been confirmed last week that there will be a special Planning Application Committee meeting in July (in addition to the normal one planned on July 3rd) to consider the Ram Brewery application.

It will be held on Tuesday, 23rd July 2013 at 7.30pm.

Usually August’s meeting is dedicated to small applications only and developers must have pressed the Council not to delay the decision (to approve?) to the autumn!