A petition opposing the plans previously gained more than 5,000 signatures and support from celebrities including Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton
A 29-storey tower proposed for the bottom of Battersea Bridge is nearly five times the height deemed suitable for the area, the local council has told a public inquiry.
Wandsworth Council outlined its case at the opening of a much-anticipated public inquiry into developer Rockwell’s plans to build a looming 110-home tower on Battersea Bridge Road, by the River Thames, which the authority rejected last year.
Rockwell appealed to the Planning Inspectorate after the council threw out the “grossly unacceptable” scheme last April, on the basis it failed to follow policy or meet the needs of the local community. The controversial plans would see the six-storey Glassmill office building replaced with the tower, which would have 54 affordable homes to be offered at social rent, workspace for businesses, a riverside café and hub for local charities.
Douglas Edwards KC, representing the council, told the inquiry today (March 17) the height and scale of the development was too great and would substantially harm the character of its surroundings in Battersea and Chelsea. He said it conflicted with Wandsworth’s development plan, made up of the Local Plan and London Plan – an issue which was not outweighed by its benefits.
The barrister said the site was identified for mid-rise buildings of six storeys, with the proposal being “fivefold the height appropriate for a mid-rise zone”. He added that while the council was not opposed to redevelopment of the site, the scheme was not appropriate and should be dismissed.
William Walton, from the Royal Town Planning Institute, also called for Rockwell’s appeal to be thrown out on behalf of a consortium of local groups made up of the Battersea Society, Chelsea Society, Cheyne Walk Trust, Friends of Battersea Park, Putney Society and Wandsworth Society.
Mr Walton said the benefits of the scheme failed to outweigh its conflicts with Wandsworth’s development plan. He described the building as “too large, too great a mass and too high for the site’s footprint”.
Mr Walston also argued the developer had failed to properly consider heritage issues, which it had “materially understated”.
He said the proposal was an “inappropriately tall building located within an area designated in a very recently adopted Local Plan for much more modest scale projects”.
Setting out the developer’s case, however, Russell Harris KC argued the “elegant building of exemplary quality” would improve the character and appearance of its surroundings.
He said the site “should accept optimised change” and did allow for a landmark, high-quality tall building to be built with much-needed affordable housing to tackle the capital’s housing crisis.
Mr Harris argued Wandsworth’s Local Plan was out of date and should not be read as banning tall buildings in the area.
He said: “This is a unique and totemic opportunity to optimise the delivery of housing and affordable housing on this brownfield site.”
Rockwell originally proposed for the building to reach up to 39 storeys in height, but later slashed this to 29 storeys. It applied in 2024 to build the tower with 110 flats, including 54 affordable homes to be offered at social rent, or 50 per cent by habitable room.
The council’s Planning Committee unanimously turned down the scheme last April, after agreeing the tower would be too big for the constrained site, spoil the skyline and “devastate” neighbours’ lives. They said there was no guarantee the level of affordable housing that had been proposed would actually be built in the tower, as it would be subject to further viability tests if approved.
Conservative councillor Ravi Govindia slammed the scheme as “grossly unacceptable”.
The Greater London Authority (GLA) allowed the council’s decision to stand the following month, after ruling there were not “sound planning reasons for the Mayor to intervene in this particular case”.
The scheme also attracted fierce opposition from residents, who raised particular concerns about its scale and impact on traffic.
Rob McGibbon, editor of The Chelsea Citizen, launched a Change.org petition in 2024 opposing the plans, which gained more than 5,000 signatures and support from celebrities including Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Felicity Kendal, Anthea Turner, Harry Hill and Lord Browne of Madingley.
The application also drew 2,028 objections on the council’s planning portal and 1,892 letters of support. Objectors raised concerns over the credibility of the support letters as many followed the same template and were uploaded in batches, although Rockwell said gathering voluntary letters of support through canvassing and advertising was standard industry practice.
The planning inquiry is expected to last eight days. It will continue tomorrow (March 18) until Friday (March 20), before resuming again next week from March 24 to 27.
Inspector Joanna Gilbert will make a decision on the appeal in due course.
Got a story? Email charlotte.lillywhite@reachplc.com.
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