NEWS FLASH! 

Wandsworth’s Planning Committee has unanimously rejected Rockwell’s application for a 28-storey residential tower at Battersea Bridge, in line with a comprehensive recommendation to refuse by council officers.

At their meeting on 24 April, committee members strongly agreed that the proposal was fundamentally “the wrong tower in the wrong place”. Councillors cast doubt on whether the social housing would ever be delivered as it was “subject to viability” – backed by their officers who said that in the absence of a viability statement it was likely that Rockwell could come back and argue that inflated build costs made it unaffordable.

Councillors went on to criticise the scheme as a mere “tick-box exercise,” highlighting poorly thought-out elements such as single-aspect social housing units potentially leading to poor living conditions, limited community use only really suitable for administrative functions, and inadequate public realm provisions.

Councillor Caroline de la Soujoule – on of our St Mary’s Ward councillors – underlined the overwhelming public opposition, citing nearly 2,000 objections, a petition of more than 5,000 signatures collected by local campaigner and editor of The Chelsea Citizen, Rob McGibbon, as well as her own petition of 600 local people.

Caroline had significant concerns regarding the development’s height, heritage impact, loss of daylight for nearby residents, inadequate public space, and wholly inadequate plans to manage construction disruption on a constrained site next to the Grade II listed Battersea Bridge. She further stressed that approving the proposal would undermine local and regional planning policies designed to preserve the area’s character and heritage.

The height of the tower was the decisive reason for refusal, vastly exceeding local planning guidelines. The site, according to Wandsworth’s local plan, is allocated for buildings up to six storeys high, with an adjacent ‘tall buildings’ zone capped at 12 storeys. At 29 storeys, Rockwell’s proposal was described as a visually intrusive anomaly, out of proportion and detrimental to historic vistas, notably those from Battersea Park, the Thames Embankment, and nearby conservation areas.

Local councillors Jamie Colclough and Jessica Lee – also from St Mary’s Ward – reinforced these views, with Councillor Lee stating decisively: “Our residents think it’s important to send a loud and clear message to developers: schemes like this, that ignore the local character and put profit ahead of improvements to the local area and people’s wellbeing, just aren’t welcome here in Battersea.”

Friends of Battersea Riverside welcomed the decision, stating: “We’re relieved and delighted that Wandsworth’s Planning Committee has refused Rockwell’s application. A huge thank you to local councillors and everyone who campaigned against this tower, which clearly broke local planning rules.

“Over three attempts, Rockwell’s plans became increasingly desperate. While social housing is urgently needed, their designs were never economically credible. We believe their real aim was simply to secure planning permission to sell the site on for profit.

“We strongly support a realistic redevelopment – around ten storeys, matching nearby buildings – that genuinely includes affordable housing and community facilities. We now hope a trustworthy developer will genuinely engage with us and other residents to deliver a plan that benefits the whole community.”

The committee’s decision sends a firm message to developers that future schemes must genuinely reflect local needs, priorities, and character, rather than imposing disproportionate developments driven by financial speculation and unsound commercial decisions.