Controversial letters, affordable housing and the big time players of property: The battle over OBB heats up

The battle over a controversial tower block is heating up after campaigners slammed developers’ attempts to win back residents with updated proposals.

One Battersea Bridge (OBB), a 28-storey building at the corner of the River Thames and Battersea Bridge Road, has been the heart of a bitter dispute between residents and its developer, Rockwell Property, for the best part of 2024. 

The dispute hinges on three main issues, which have been the subject of more than 30 meetings between Rockwell and Wandsworth council. 

Rockwell, which paid £45million for the site, needs to build enough homes to create a profit, the local authority needs affordable homes to house 13,500 people on its housing waiting list and both parties face more than 4,000 objections.

At the heart of the campaign against the proposal is journalist and activist Rob McGibbon, 59, who has lived in Chelsea, overlooking Battersea Bridge since 1995, an area he describes as “one of the last” remaining stretches of river walk “unspoilt by development”.

The Stop One Battersea Bridge (SOBB) campaign Mr McGibbon set up to unite opposition, has garnered 4,134 signatures and is supported by celebrities including Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton.

He said: “It is an historic vista that we desperately want preserved – but there’s a chance that it could all be thrown away for a few social rent flats lost at the back of a vast build that will be a scar on that landscape. There has to be a better way.”

In a recent bid to win over its critics, Rockwell updated its plans by increasing the amount of ‘affordable’ housing from 35 per cent to 50 per cent – surpassing London’s developer targets – and reducing the building height from 33 to 28 storeys. 

But, Mr McGibbon said: “Their initial proposal was so extreme I always knew they would cut the height – just because it’s reduced to 28 storeys it’s no less ridiculous.

“Rockwell says that they are serving the communities of Wandsworth, but I don’t buy it. They are big time players in the property world and they are in it to make money, then move on to the next project.”

The campaigner – who successfully rallied against TfL to improve safety on Battersea Bridge after the death of a jogger in 2021 – has also raised the issue that the site sits within an area classified by the council’s local plan as a mid-rise building zone, limiting developments to a maximum height of 12 storeys.

Mr McGibbon said: “If the council allows the development they will be making a mockery of their own Local Plan. If One Battersea Bridge gets through at 28 storeys, then what is to stop other developers following suit?”

Rockwell, founded in 2015 by Donal Mulryan is supported by Cerberus Capital Management, an American private equity firm with about £50billion in assets.

Its plans for the Battersea river front site include more than 5,700sqft of affordable office space for small businesses, a near 3,000sqft community space for charities, and public improvements like a new ‘Waterfront Plaza’ and riverside restaurant, designed to attract visitors and boost the economy. 

The company’s managing director, Nicholas Mee, said: “We’re confident this proposal delivers what’s needed: vibrant public spaces, support for local charities and businesses, and most importantly, the affordable homes Wandsworth needs.”

On the council’s feedback page, there are 400 letters which support OBB, from residents. The majority use the same template letter, which had been used by Rockwell when canvassing the area – a practice which the company claims is commonplace for developers.

But, Mr McGibbon sees the templates as a “disingenuous” attempt to balance out the comments section by “cynically soliciting people to agree with their position”.

Even so, the portal holds more than 800 letters from residents objecting to the plans.

A Wandsworth council spokesman said: “We have a robust planning process in place and take careful account of objection and support comments. We will undertake our own public consultation on any further plans.” 

Mr McGibbon accepts the “impossible” dilemma of cash strapped councils desperately in need of affordable housing. But, he said: “They just cannot give this incredible space to a property developer to build a monstrosity – I’m appealing to the council to go back to the drawing board and think harder about what can be done on the site.”

The SOBB petition can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/s-o-b-b-stop-one-battersea-bridge For more information on Rockwell’s plan visit: https://glassmill.co.uk/

Pictured top: Journalist and campaigner Rob McGibbon on Battersea Bridge (Picture: Rob McGibbon)