Plans for 24-storey block of flats thrown out for zero affordable housing provision

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for a 24-storey tower block in Battersea with more than 500 flats have been slapped down as there wasn’t enough affordable housing.

Wandsworth council threw out the proposal last night after hearing the block would not include any affordable homes.

Permission has already been granted for a 20-storey tower block on the site with 168 homes, including 60 affordable homes.

But Big Yellow Ltd and GS Battersea Owner Ltd applied to make the building taller and increase the homes to 547 in shared living accommodation managed by Greystar – called “urban living”.

A statement with the application said: “Whilst urban living will meet the needs of many households whose needs are not met by the market, as per the national definition of affordable housing, it is defined as a market product.

“A financial contribution will therefore also be made to support the delivery of family sized social rented housing within the borough.”

This was set at £16.5million. But Wandsworth council’s planning committee said the proposal failed to meet need in the borough.

A council report using data from consultant Avison Young estimates it would cost between £1,430 and £1,733 a month to rent the homes. It says they would be affordable to households on incomes from £61,285.

Labour councillor Jamie Colclough said: “People who are already on this level of income could already comfortably afford a nice studio apartment anyway in the borough so I’m struggling to see where the need is for this kind of housing.”

Labour councillor Sheila Boswell said the development would be “out of reach of the very people that actually need this accommodation” and “it doesn’t meet the need in the borough”.

There is still permission for the 20-storey block.

Pictured top: CGI of the proposed development for 57-59 Lombard Road, Wandsworth, as viewed from Lombard Road (Picture: Hawkins Brown/Greystar)