Osiers Gate development - too large, too high, too expensive?

January 7, Wandsworth's Planning Application Meeting

The Committee considered an application for the development of 8 blocks varying between 2 and 21 storeys in height in the Wandle delta. The developers' own publicity material includes the artist's impressions you can see above. The top three pictures show a view from the Wandle and the and the bottom half is the view from the other side of the Thames.

The planning officers' report stated that the development was of a very high density and that the public transport links are amongst the worst in the Borough with the nearest bus stop being half a mile away and with Wandsworth Town station being a notoriously and dangerously over-crowded mainline station.

Despite these reservations and the written objections from local Tory councillor Jim Madden, all the Tory councillors on the Committee voted for the application but without having much to say in support of it. One of them said that it would be "good" for the Government's healthy living programme if residents had to walk that distance for the crowded 220 bus!

Labour's Billi Randall and Tony Belton opposed the application as being out of scale, over density, too large for the current infrastructure of community facilities (in other words too large for the transport links) as did the Wandsworth Society. But the application was passed almost without debate.

It seems like the Wandsworth riverfront has become a developers' delight. But these tower blocks are NOT the answer to the housing needs of London. Many of the new flats are empty and almost none sustain a real community - they are expensive dormitories with little life and no established community.

We think that this craze for expensive, high rise flats on the river-side has gone far too far. Tell us what you think. We are really interested to know your thoughts.