New homes approved on former gasworks site despite residents’ concerns about contaminated land
By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 150 new homes have been approved on Rotherhithe’s former gasworks site by Southwark council despite residents’ concerns about contaminated land.
The last remaining gasholder will be dismantled to make way for the development, which will be made up of three six-storey blocks surrounded by three-storey homes.
A planning committee on Tuesday was told that retaining the gasholder would have resulted in 34 fewer homes on the site on Salter Road.
Steve Miller, who lives close to the former gasworks, said he and more than 50 other residents were concerned about toxic contamination on the site.
He told the meeting: “Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been found in high volume and there is presence of heavy metals, asbestos, nitrogen and cyanide.
“These are all highly toxic and have serious long-term health impacts such as liver and kidney damage, central nervous system effects and cancer.
“Very little contamination exploratory work has been done on this site to date. We have families with small children living up to three metres away from this site. This is terrifying.”
A contamination consultant from CampbellReith Consulting said he understood residents’ concerns, but emphasised that as part of the planning application the site would have to be investigated for contaminants and cleaned up before any construction work took place.
He added that the gasworks had mainly been used for gas storage, with only the North West of the site used for gas purification, which is considered more polluting.
Of the 151 new homes planned, 63 will be affordable—comprising 43 of the cheapest social rent homes and 20 shared ownership homes, where a person buys a share of a property and pays rent on the remaining share owned by a landlord.
A planning committee approved the scheme unanimously.
Conditions imposed on the development mean the site must be investigated and cleaned up before the construction of new homes.
Residents will be provided with their own independent contamination expert by the council, in addition to the contamination consultant provided by the applicant, Notting Hill Genesis.
Julian Wain, assistant planning director at Notting Hill Genesis, said: “Our aim is to make best use of the former gasometer site. Development of the site provides a fantastic opportunity to deliver much needed new affordable homes for Southwark.”
Pictured top: The last remaining gasholder in Rotherhithe will be dismantled (Picture: Southwark council planning documents)