A major planning battle over a proposed 29-storey skyscraper at the foot of Battersea Bridge is set to be decided by a government inspector, after the developer appealed against the local council's refusal.
Council Rejects "Grossly Unacceptable" Scheme
Wandsworth Council's planning committee unanimously rejected the scheme put forward by developer Rockwell in April last year. Councillors ruled the plans for Battersea Bridge Road were "grossly unacceptable", arguing the tower would be too large for the constrained site, damage the skyline, and severely impact neighbours' lives.
The council's decision was backed by the Greater London Authority the following month, which found no sound planning reason for the Mayor to intervene. Council officers highlighted that the site sits in a mid-rise zone within the local plan, where buildings should not exceed six storeys or 18 metres in height.
Developer Appeals, Citing Housing Crisis
Rockwell has now formally appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, seeking to overturn the council's decision and gain approval to replace the existing six-storey Glassmill building. Inspector Joanna Gilbert will oversee the appeal, with a public inquiry scheduled to begin on March 17 and expected to last for eight days.
Nicholas Mee, Managing Director at Rockwell, defended the scheme as a "real chance to regenerate an underutilised brownfield site". He emphasised the proposal includes 110 new homes, with 50% offered as genuinely affordable social rent – a figure he stated is above regional and local targets.
Celebrity Backed Opposition and Support Debate
The plans have sparked fierce local debate. A petition led by Rob McGibbon, editor of The Chelsea Citizen, gathered over 5,000 signatures and won support from high-profile figures including Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, and actor Felicity Kendal.
Objections on the council's portal reached 2,028, with concerns focused on the tower's scale and traffic impact. Meanwhile, the application received 1,892 letters of support, though objectors questioned their credibility as many followed a similar template. Rockwell maintained that gathering support letters through canvassing is standard practice.
Labour councillors Jessica Lee and Jamie Colclough stated the refusal sent a "loud and clear message" to developers that schemes ignoring local character were unwelcome. The council's committee also expressed doubt that the promised level of affordable housing would materialise, as it would be subject to further viability tests if approved.
The outcome of the upcoming public inquiry will now determine the fate of this contentious development on the banks of the Thames.
