Following, the Planning inquiry towards the end of 2024, the Planning Inspector has finally issued his decision on the Stag Brewery Site. He has upheld the Appeals by Reselton Properties, paving the way for a dense residential development and a new secondary school to be built on the historic brewery site.
MBCG is extremely disappointed at the Planning Inspector’s decision. We have been campaigning for many years for a sustainable and mixed development that meets the needs of all the community. The plans put forward by Reselton and approved by Richmond Council have never addressed our concerns that this is the wrong scheme for Mortlake.
Unfortunately, the Inspector has supported the plans which will in our view, damage the character of Mortlake for ever. This is despite over 1000 objections presented to Richmond Council.
MBCG, residents and groups like Mortlake with East Sheen Society, Barnes Community Association and the West London River Group have always called for a scheme that both preserves the special nature of the area as well as one which would regenerate Mortlake.
We have campaigned for a community-led development which:
- Retains green space
- Protects heritage and the riverside
- Increases supply of affordable housing
- Improves public transport and community facilities.
Instead, we have ended up with an over-dense development, with the loss of the brewery sports field, a riverside tow-path that will be put under relentless pressure, traffic chaos and increased pollution.
Only 7% of affordable homes offered
Scandalously, over 1000 residential units will be built, of which only a paltry 65 will be affordable. This represents just 7% of the total number of units. The rest will be sold and marketed to anyone who can afford the high price that a flat on the Mortlake riverside will undoubtedly command.
What happens now ?
We understand that the developers are now studying the decision and the conditions attached. Demolition of the site and construction will not take place for at least a year so we assume the current tenants of the site, i.e., the film studios and others enterprises will continue to rent space from Reselton Properties for now.
We also note the possibility that the developer may enter into joint ventures with others to utilise the land to take advantage of planning permission granted. This is the first time this has been officially mentioned by the developers and suggests that the details of the scheme approved by the Inspector may not be set in stone. This is also because the Department of Education (DfE) is currently reviewing the need for the secondary school on the site. If the DfE reject the school later this year, there is no doubt that developers and the Council will need to re-think some elements of the agreed master plan.
We recognise that decisions on next steps and ongoing discussions with potential joint venture partners will take time. We use this opportunity to maintain our dialogue with the developers and the Council. We plead with them to work with us on all future decisions relating to the site,
We may be down but we are certainly not out.
You can read the Planning Inspector’s Decision in full here: Reference: APP/L5810/W/24/3339060
While, it makes depressing reading, you will see that MBCG did everything we could to argue the case for the community. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported our work and donated to our legal fund to ensure the views of local residents were represented at the Planning Inquiry.