In the previous episode, Richmond council granted Mortlake planning permission –again
Last month we outlined Richmond Council’s recent decision to approve the 2023 revised Stag Brewery scheme, and explained that the next step is formal referral to the Mayor of London, see MBCG urges Mayor to refuse the latest plans for Mortlake Stag Brewery redevelopment.
We as the Mortlake Brewery Community Group (MBCG) along with the Mortlake with East Sheen Society have therefore already written to the Mayor urging him to reject the latest scheme on three key areas of planning policy, and in particular the exceptionally low affordable homes element of the proposals.
We have also urged the Mayor and his team to robustly scrutinise the financial viability reports submitted with the applications which conclude that the costs v sales returns don’t support ANY affordable housing!
We, the MCBG, find hard to believe a much increased scheme of 1,085 units cannot provide ANY affordable housing considering that the original 2020 scheme for almost 900 homes provided around 17% affordable homes.
We have done our own research on current residential sales for properties close to the river and are of the view that Reselton are greatly under-playing the likely future sales values whilst emphasising rising construction and related costs.
The developers bypass the London Mayor
Reselton however, have always said that after their failed experiences with the scheme which the Mayor refused in 2022 they would Appeal rather than engage with the Mayor again.
This they have now done, and things have moved on rather rapidly.
An Appeal has been lodged with the Secretary of State, and this has been confirmed as valid by the Planning Inspectorate. An appeal Inspector has already been appointed to hear the appeals (for both applications A&B), and the Inquiry will open on Wed 29th May with three sessions over 8 sitting days, ending on 11th June.
The Mayor has confirmed opposition to the applications and will be represented at the hearing by specialist planning QCs/lawyers and supported by expert witnesses and his own planning team. His officers have applied for substantial funds, already budgeted for such appeals. We plan to liaise with the Mayor’s planning team at the GLA to co-ordinate in advance of the hearing.
The Secretary of State however, still has the ability to intervene and action what is termed ‘recovery’ of the appeal with Michael Gove making a decision on the applications himself based on reports prepared by his Inspectorate team.
All of this is of course now highly politically charged with the impending London Mayoral Elections in May, and a General Election on the near horizon.
If Michael Gove decides not to intervene and the formal hearing proceeds as currently scheduled then our community/residents have two courses of action we can take for representation at the Inquiry.
The next steps
Either we, the MBCG, present our own advocacy as interested third parties – or – take a more serious step involving crowd fund-raising to appoint our own legal advocacy / expert witnesses to represent our objection to the proposals and cross-examine the applicant team. The latter course is open to us as objectors – seeking what is called Rule 6 status at the Inquiry – and would require significant preparation and substantial funds.
Richmond will of course support the scheme at any Inquiry having already approved the two planning applications.
We will keep close to the next steps in this complex planning and politically charged situation and update you as soon as we have further information.
Peter Eaton & Francine Bates
Co-Chair MBCG