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Agenda

November 12, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting
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Summary

The Committee objected to applications to build a 10-storey student accommodation block at 2 Armoury Way, a 28-storey mixed-use building at The Glassmill on Battersea Bridge Road, and a mixed-use development on the site of the Former Gasworks on Swandon Way. The Committee supported an application to extend the Northcote Public House, but raised some concerns about the proposed materials that would be used.

The Northcote Public House, 2 Northcote Road

The application to extend the Northcote Public House was supported by the committee, who felt that the addition of an extra storey would improve the building, which sits within the Clapham Junction Conservation Area.

I think if anything, it enhances the building to be a storey higher.

Some concerns were raised about the proposed colour scheme, the impact on the internal appearance of the building on its elevations, and the potential for noise from the new roof terrace to disturb the amenity of nearby residents.

In the event that an application includes plant on the roof of a building, air conditioning and stuff like that, it’s quite often that sound mitigation is required. If this roof area is to be used for entertainment, it’s going to be an awful lot noisier than air conditioning plant and I wonder whether any discussion to take in place with the applicant about the effects of noise on the open area.

Former Gasworks Swandon Way

The committee reiterated their previous objections to the application to redevelop the Former Gasworks on Swandon Way.

They don’t, anywhere near, come close to addressing the concerns that the Wandsworth Society had about the development.

The committee felt that even with a reduction in the height of the tallest element of the scheme, its size, bulk and appearance would still be detrimental to the character of the area and nearby heritage assets like Wandsworth House1, the River Wandle and the Wandsworth Town Conservation Area. The committee felt that the changes to the design of the scheme, in particular the addition of a dark-coloured podium level, would worsen its impact.

2 Armoury Way

The committee objected to the application to redevelop 2 Armoury Way and build a 10-storey block of student accommodation on the site.

...in that picture taken from what is a street with three and four story, three and a half story buildings maximum, two and a half mostly ... Yes, the tree is masking some of it and it will look a lot bigger than that, come the winter term.

The committee felt that the scheme would be harmful to the Old York Road Conservation Area, and to the setting of nearby listed buildings, like the former stables of the Ram Brewery. The committee felt that the site's contaminated ground conditions had led to a development that was too large, and that by not addressing issues around land ownership, the applicant had missed an opportunity to enhance the setting of nearby heritage assets.

The Glassmill, 1 Battersea Bridge Road

The committee objected to the scheme to build a 28-storey mixed-use building on the site of The Glassmill on Battersea Bridge Road.

...the building would have an unacceptable impact on both conservation areas in Wandsworth and north of the river in Kensington and Chelsea. And on listed buildings in those areas. And on the, on the riverscape of, you know, the major blue asset that we have in London, the River Thames.

Although the height of the building had been reduced, the committee felt that it would still be too dominant and cause substantial harm to the setting of heritage assets, in particular the Royal Hospital Chelsea2 and the Grade II* listed Albert Bridge. The committee also felt that the scheme would be harmful to the character of the Westbridge Conservation Area and the setting of the Grade I listed Battersea Bridge.

The committee acknowledged that there was a need for more housing in the borough, including social housing, but felt that this did not justify the level of harm that the proposal would cause.

Decisions

The committee noted that the decisions on a number of previous applications had been made in accordance with their recommendations. These were the applications concerning Nepean House, Mount Clare Campus3 and Emmanuel School.

Local Listing Update

The committee were updated on the progress of the Local Listing consultation.

...the purpose of the exercise is to follow on from the original exercise that took part in 2017.

The consultation was now live on the council's website, and would run until February 2025. It is intended that the results of the consultation will be used to create a new, interactive map of locally listed buildings on the council's website.

Street Signage

Councillor Osborne addressed the committee about a plan to overhaul street signage in the borough.

...there is a plan to look at the street signage, both traffic signage and street names in the borough. And to see if we can find enough funding to overhaul both of those during the course, hopefully of the next year.

The plan was at an early stage, but it was hoped that funding could be identified to repaint, rebuild or refurbish street signs. Councillor Osborne asked the meeting to assist the council by suggesting street signs that may be of heritage or conservation value.

...we want to fold into the request for suggestions on the listing process, request for suggestions on street name signs that the amenity societies may feel are of heritage or conservation significance.


  1. A Grade II* listed building now used as a community centre. 

  2. A Grade I listed Chelsea landmark, founded as a retirement home for veteran soldiers. 

  3. A university campus with two listed buildings, the Grade II* listed Mount Clare House and the Grade I listed Roman Catholic Chapel. 

Attendees

  • Emmeline Owens
  • Rex Osborn
  • Tony Belton
  • Andrew Catto The Putney Society
  • Barry Sellers
  • Callum Wernham
  • Christine Cook
  • David Andrews
  • Dr Michael Jubb Battersea Society
  • Dr Pamela Greenwood Wandsworth Historical Society
  • Elen Richards
  • Janet Ferguson
  • Lauren Way
  • Mark Hunter
  • Mr Chris Rice River Thames Society
  • Mr Edward Potter Royal Institute of British Architects
  • Mr John Rattray Balham Society
  • Mr Mark Dodgson Balham Society
  • Mr Peter Farrow Wandsworth Society
  • Mr Roger Armstrong Clapham Society
  • Ms Frances Radcliffe Friends of Battersea Park
  • Ms Laura Polglase The Putney Society
  • Ms Libby Lawson Tooting History Group
  • Nick Calder
  • Nigel Granger