Our Vision

The Mortlake Brewery Community Group was first established when the proposed closure of the brewery was announced, and initial activities involved collaboration with Richmond Council to formulate the Planning Brief to guide the site’s redevelopment. The Brief was adopted in 2011 and the Group has been campaigning for over 10 years to ensure this historic site is developed as an exemplar community for the 21st Century.

This means a development that is sustainable, responds to the unique and historic riverside  location, and creates a residential led, mixed use scheme which includes material levels of genuinely affordable housing. A fundamental aspect of the development is to bring back the ‘heart’ to Mortlake. 

This prime 21 acre site is however inherently constrained geographically between the River Thames and the Richmond/Waterloo railway line with level crossings at Mortlake Station and three further crossings between Barnes and Manor Road creating additional vehicular barriers. It is further constrained with the only through road leading to and from the notoriously problematic Chalker’s Corner 5-way junction where the South Circular road and the A316 (linking the M3 and central London), converge.

The surrounding environment and character to the site creates it’s uniqueness, but equally necessitate a sensitive and intelligent design which must respect the riverside setting and key vistas, surrounding conservation areas, the listed buildings, other heritage assets, and the low-scale of the local sub-urban context. It is vital that the development enhances the existing ‘village’ community, supports local businesses, and improves the lifestyle for tenants in existing affordable homes and all residents in the locale.

Harm from poor design and density levels higher than London Plan policy would push beyond a tipping point for residents, visitors and those passing through Mortlake. This would be unacceptable.

Our Goals

Our Community Plan addresses all these multi-layered issues.

The developer has submitted new, enlarged proposals for the site, and as the GLA has postponed its hearing to re-appraise the scheme. We seize this opportunity to re-iterate our Vision to promote the exemplar, post-Covid development we all desire.

1. A development that puts the heart back into Mortlake

  • A mixed-use and inclusive development of residential, retail, flexible commercial and community facilities
  • A plan that provides genuinely affordable housing, integrated within all phases, with a mix of tenure types including a generous quantum of low cost rent homes to meet pressing local needs
  • A plan that supports commercial opportunities in Mortlake both within the development and the existing community and that likewise re-vitalises the existing Mortlake High Street
  • An imaginative design enhancing the area’s ‘village’ feel, preserving and respecting Mortlake’s history, listed buildings, conservation areas and other locally listed heritage assets

 

2. Safe and Sustainable solutions to reduce traffic and improve quality of life

  • A plan explicitly addressing the transport challenges, particularly at Sheen Lane level crossing and Chalker’s Corner whilst avoiding any adverse affects on vulnerable residents in Chertsey Court.
  • An environmentally sustainable design during demolition and construction (given river,road, rail and Hammersmith Bridge transport constraints), through to phased completion and occupation
  • Improvements to the capacity and reach of bus and rail transport services
  • Dedicated and integrated pedestrian and cycle routes and facilities, encouraging healthy modes of travel
  • A plan that minimises car parking and traffic movement and avoids any further degradation of already damaging air quality levels

 

3. Development Density we can all live with

  • An optimised, cumulative density appropriate to the sub-urban context, severe access constraints, and which creates a high quality, sustainable environment
  • Building heights which respect the location, historic riverside context, heritage assets and principles of the adopted Planning Brief – (no buildings higher than The Maltings).
  • Genuine place-making with generous, light filled, public open spaces and play areas

 

4. Protect and enhance Mortlake’s green spaces for all to enjoy

  • Retain and enhance the existing protected sports fields
  • Respect and enhance the towpath and Bull’s Alley, and safeguard Mortlake Green
  • Create a new green link from Mortlake Station to the River to form a focal area for the wider community
  • Create animated, generous, sun-washed open spaces between buildings, providing daylight and healthy living both internally and externally
  • Create new pedestrian and cycle routes to/from the riverside, improving public permeability

 

5. Community facilities and services for all

  • Educational improvements to meet local needs and which avoid any risk of harm to existing schools. Relocate Thomson House Primary School to the site and expand the existing local secondary schools
  • Generous, flexible, open recreation space for primary school pupils and broader community use
  • Dedicated community space for a wide range of activities
  • A process that engages and empowers the community in the decision making process so that we are actively involved in the evolution of a scheme, creating a true exemplar for a post-Covid environment
  • A plan that is consistent with the Mayor’s London Plan, the National Planning Policy Framework and the Local Plan.

Join our campaign today

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