It is now several months since The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan listened to the residents of Mortlake and rejected the latest plans to redevelop the Stag Brewery site. After a short break, MBCG are getting active again to ensure that this time, we get a development that the Community can fully support.
None of us want a half derelict site left vacant for years. The Mayor was very clear, the developers and the local council must now work together to maximise affordable housing for the people of the borough. We believe that it is possible to develop the site in an imaginative and sustainable way, providing well designed housing, including for social rent. maintain existing green space while minimising harms to the local community.
We have now met with Guy Duckworth from Dartmouth Capital who represents the site owners, Reselton Properties, several times since the Mayor’s decision. Although, they still have a little time left to appeal the decision, they are preparing a new plan for the site to try and satisfy both Richmond Council and the Mayor. Guy is happy to work with us and consider the ideas we put forward in our Community Plan.
The Secondary School
MBCG are still very opposed to building a secondary school for 1250 pupils on the site, which is not justified in terms of future places required. This is particularly true, post pandemic as more families have left the area. Both Richmond Park Academy and Christ’s have spare capacity and space to expand if necessary. We continue to support the Governors and Head Teacher of Thomson House Primary School in their campaign to relocate the school to the site. This school is in desperate need of outdoor space, away from the dangerous level crossing on Sheen Lane. The developers also support this option and have committed to fund the rebuilding of Thomson House School. The developers have also agreed to financially contribute towards the expansion of facilities at both Richmond Park Academy and Christ’s to accommodate any additional pupil places over the next few years.
This is a golden opportunity to enhance education in Mortlake and East Sheen at no cost to the Council
We therefore call on the Leader of Richmond Council, Cllr. Gareth Roberts and the Department of Education to review their decision to build an expensive and wasteful free school on the site and instead support the existing schools in the area.
Our actions since the Mayoral decision
We have held a community event at St Mary’s to celebrate our great victory to persuade the Mayor to turn down the planning applications
We have written to Cllr Roberts and met with the local MP, Sarah Olney and urged them to facilitate the involvement of the community in the development of a new plan for the site.
We have maintained a positive relationship with the developers who are now considering our Community Plan as part of the new scheme they will be submitting to Richmond Council.
We have urged the Developers to engage fully with the community in the next round of consultations.
We are working with the local schools and parents to create a new educational vision in Mortlake and East Sheen.
We have officially complained to the Department of Education about the lack of consultation on the proposed secondary school and absence of any robust data to support it.
Next steps
The developers will be submitting a new planning application to Richmond Council in the next few months. We will keep the community informed and hold a public meeting to discuss the new scheme as soon as it is published.
Francine Bates and Peter Eaton, Co-Chairs, Mortlake Brewery Community Group.