1,000 new homes to be built in south London after 10 year planning battle
1,000 new homes to be built in south London after 10 year planning battle
The homes will be built on the site of the old Stag Brewery site in Mortlake (Image: Reselton Properties)
More than 1,000 new homes will be built in south London on the bank of the Thames despite opposition from Sadiq Khan.
The Mayor of London has said that it is 'disappointing' that the Planning Inspectorate upheld an appeal by developer Reselton Properties, paving the way for the scheme to be built.
The £1.3 billion development, on the old Stag Brewery site, will see 1,068 homes delivered as well as a new secondary school, shops and offices.
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Three different versions of the scheme have been approved by Richmond upon Thames Council – but Sadiq Khan has remained opposed.
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Last year, the local authority backed the most recent set of proposals, which included both an application for the wider development site and an application for the secondary school.
But a final decision on both could not be issued without approval from the Mayor of London.
Reselton appealed directly to the Planning Inspectorate before Sadiq Khan could consider the plans, claiming he had already indicated he would oppose them.
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The Mayor has raised concern about the lack of affordable housing in the scheme, which would make up just 7.5 per cent of the new homes.
The developer bought the site in 2015. The development is led by Dartmouth Capital Advisors on behalf of Reselton, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-listed City Developments Limited (CDL).
Guy Duckworth, development drector of Dartmouth Capital Advisors, said: 'Our client bought the site with the benefit of a planning brief from Richmond Council, the spirit of which our architects Squire & Partners have followed faithfully, and yet it has taken 10 years to obtain a planning consent.'
The first version of the scheme, which would have delivered 813 homes, was backed by Richmond Council before being called in by the Mayor in 2021.
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Reselton then increased the number of homes on the site to 1,250, with 30 per cent set to be affordable.
But the Mayor still refused the plans despite his own planning officers suggesting it should be approved, claiming that the buildings were too big.
This prompted Reselton to submit the most recent proposals, which first received approval from Richmond Council in July 2023.
However, new fire regulations post-Grenfell requiring two staircases in buildings above 18 metres forced the developer to revise its plans again.
It was these latest plans that have now been given the go ahead by the Planning Inspectorate.
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Richmond Council has welcomed the appeal decision, claiming that the development 'presents an opportunity for the whole community'.
READ MORE - Mayor backs 569 flat re-development in the heart of East Croydon
Leader of the council, Cllr Gareth Roberts, said: 'While we know this scheme has attracted a mix of views, our priority is to ensure the development delivers real benefits for Mortlake – from new homes and school places to jobs and public spaces.
'If delivered well, the scheme has the potential to create a well-connected and sustainable neighbourhood that reflects the needs of current and future generations in Mortlake.'
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A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 'It's disappointing that the Planning Inspectorate has allowed this appeal despite the development failing to adequately meet the desperate need for affordable housing in London.
'The very low level of affordable housing is contrary to the government's drive to boost the delivery of affordable and social housing for a generation.'
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