Richmond Upon Thames (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Richmond Council has approved a major housing scheme at the Stag Brewery site in Mortlake, despite previous objections from London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
As reported by Your Local Guardian, it is “disappointing,” according to the Mayor of London, that the Planning Inspectorate granted developer Reselton Properties’ appeal, which allowed the project to proceed.
On the site of the former Stag Brewery, 1,068 residences, a new secondary school, retail establishments, and offices will all be part of the £1.3 billion development.
Richmond upon Thames Council has authorized three iterations of the plan, but Sadiq Khan has not changed his mind.
The most recent set of ideas, which included applications for the secondary school and the larger development site, were approved by the local government last year.
However, the Mayor of London’s consent was required before a final decision on either could be made.
Small firms will have access to about 5,000 square meters of office space, boosting employment and the local economy.
Chalkers Corner road junction modifications are part of the plan to handle more traffic, enhance air quality, and expedite the local road system.
Before Sadiq Khan had a chance to review the designs, Reselton made a straight appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, arguing that he had previously made it clear he would not approve them.
The absence of affordable housing in the plan, which would only account for 7.5% of the new residences, has alarmed the mayor.
In 2015, the developer purchased the website. Dartmouth Capital Advisors is in charge of the project on behalf of Reselton, a fully-owned subsidiary of City Developments Limited (CDL), a company listed in Singapore.
Guy Duckworth, development director 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.”
Prior to being brought in by the Mayor in 2021, the initial version of the plan, which would have provided 813 dwellings, had the support of Richmond Council.
Reselton went on to build 1,250 homes on the property, with 30% of them being affordable.
Even though his own planning officers recommended that the proposals be approved, the mayor declined them, stating that the structures were too large.
Reselton responded to this by submitting the most recent plans, which were initially accepted by Richmond Council in July 2023.
But after Grenfell, the developer was compelled to change its plans once more because to new fire regulations that required two staircases in buildings taller than eighteen meters.
These are the most recent plans that the Planning Inspectorate has now approved.
The appeal result was welcomed by Richmond Council, which stated that the development “presents an opportunity for the whole community.”
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.”
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.”
What are the main benefits of the Stag Brewery redevelopment for the local community in Richmond?
The plan will assist meet the local housing demand by constructing 1,075 new dwellings. The entire increase in housing stock is significant, even if only around 8% will be cheap (the majority will be for larger family units and social rent).
There will be new parks, squares, and manicured spaces spread across more than ten acres of open green space. The neighborhood will have several new bike and pedestrian routes to the River Thames for the first time in centuries, allowing people to enjoy and relax by the river.
A new 1,200-seat secondary school with a sixth form, a full-sized football field that is also open to the public, an indoor gym, and other play and sports areas are all part of the development. Local education for community events will be supported by these amenities.