Planning inspector backs council’s rejection of development which was ‘not exemplary, extraordinary, remarkable or distinctive, just tall’Celebrities including Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger have defeated plans to build a 29-storey tower on the banks of the River Thames.Jagger, along with fellow rockstar Eric Clapton, actor Felicity Kendal and comic Harry Hill, fought the developer Rockwell Property for two years over its plan to erect a 100-metre tower next to Battersea Br
Architect’s drawing of development near Battersea Bridge in London, which would have rivalled the heights of the famous chimneys on Battersea power station.
Photograph: Farrells View image in fullscreen Architect’s drawing of development near Battersea Bridge in London, which would have rivalled the heights of the famous chimneys on Battersea power station.
Photograph: Farrells Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton win battle to stop 29-storey block being built by Thames Planning inspector backs council’s rejection of development which was ‘not exemplary, extraordinary, remarkable or distinctive, just tall’ Celebrities including Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger have defeated plans to build a 29-storey tower on the banks of the River Thames.
Jagger, along with fellow rockstar Eric Clapton, actor Felicity Kendal and comic Harry Hill, fought the developer Rockwell Property for two years over its plan to erect a 100-metre tower next to Battersea Bridge. If the tower had been built on the south bank of the Thames in south-west London, it would have rivalled the heights of the famous chimneys on Battersea power station.
Jagger, 82, who has lived on the north bank since the early 1960s, as have bandmates Brian Jones and Keith Richards, said the tower made “no sense” and was “totally wrong on every level”.
Jagger told the Chelsea Citizen in March that he had “lived in this area for a long time and I care about what happens to it. If this goes ahead, it could lead to more tall buildings being built … changing this wonderful stretch of the Thames riverside forever”.
Clapton, 81, warned that if the plans were approved it would be a “free-for-all for other developers to build towers along the river”. He added: “These developers don’t give a damn what anyone thinks. They are just in it for the money.” Rockwell Property initially proposed building a 34-storey tower with 142 flats, which was later reduced to 110 flats, including 54 affordable homes, along with underground parking and a mix of commercial spaces. The developer argued the project tackled “an urgent need for new, high-quality housing” in London .
Wandsworth council rejected the plans, citing the project’s “excessive height and scale,” adding that it “would represent an unacceptable and incongruous transformative change within the location that would significantly harm the spatial character of the same location”. It also said the tower would spoil the skyline and “devastate” neighbours’ lives. The Greater London Authority backed the council’s decision.
Rockwell appealed, but got no satisfaction, as a planning inspector backed objectors and the council this week by ruling the tower would have an “adverse effects on the character and appearance of the local area” and “be overbearing”.
After an eight-day public hearing, planning inspector Joanna Gilbert said: “The proposal would cause harm to townscape character in several identified views from different directions and differing distances.
“[It] would be taller and bulkier than other existing buildings, rendering it highly noticeable. The proposal would cause a dramatic change to the skyline in views along this part of the [Thames] embankment. Overall, this change would be detrimental.” The inspector added: “The proposal is not exemplary, extraordinary, remarkable or distinctive, just tall. It would not adorn the London skyline and would not form part of a ribbon cluster of tall buildings, but would appear alien and isolated in its very height in this location, harming spatial character.” Rockwell said in a statement: “We are obviously disappointed with the decision as we firmly believe in this regeneration project. We wanted to see it delivered and made a number of changes to the scheme following feedback from the public.” The developer added: “We did not compromise on quality, using the world-renowned architects, Farrells, so it is disappointing the inspector did not share our view that this would be a great addition to London’s skyline.” Explore more on these topics Planning policy London Mick Jagger Eric Clapton Felicity Kendal Harry Hill Housing news Share Reuse this content
