Campaigners locked in a bitter fight to stop a 29-storey tower by Battersea Bridge are sharpening their swords once again — after developer Rockwell Property launched an appeal to the Secretary of State to overturn a crushing council rejection.

Wandsworth Council threw out Rockwell’s plans for a tower of mostly luxury apartments last year, branding it “grossly unacceptable” and warning that it flew in the face of its planning policy. Officers added that the scale of the scheme would devastate the area, as well as the lives of residents.

Now Rockwell is taking its case to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, triggering a full public inquiry — and reigniting one of south-west London’s fiercest planning battles.

The campaign against what has become known as the “toxic tower” has drawn heavyweight backing. A petition led by The Chelsea Citizen’s editor Rob McGibbon attracted more than 5,000 signatures, with support from celebrities including Sir Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Felicity Kendal, Harry Hill and Lord Browne of Madingley. The involvement of such a glittering array of stars led to widespread media coverage across the national press.

After hearing of Rockwell’s appeal, Chelsea resident Mr McGibbon said: “It is hugely disappointing that Rockwell has launched this appeal. It will cause great expense for Wandsworth Council and the government – money that could go to better use in the community.

“Wandsworth’s planning committee, its officers, multiple distinguished groups and thousands of residents clearly explained why this tower is totally unacceptable. It is the wrong scheme, in the wrong area, and yet this company has dismissed all the evidence and criticism to forge ahead. It’s as if they think that they are beyond any rules.

“Regardless of the time and effort it will take to fight this appeal, our campaign goes on and we intend to win.”

Rockwell lodged appeal just days before the expiration date and a hearing will begin at 10am on 17th March at Wandsworth Town Hall. It will last EIGHT DAYS at huge expense to the public purse and will be chaired by Inspector Joanna Gilbert.

The controversial proposal would see the 1980s six-storey Glassmill office block bulldozed and replaced with a 29-floor block of flats and a extensive “shoulder” building rising to ten storeys. Both would loom over Battersea and Chelsea.

Residents have voiced fury over the tower’s scale, warning it would overwhelm a constrained site, clog local roads and scar the skyline. They also fear that the construction phase could damage Battersea Bridge itself and the river wall, as well as cause traffic chaos for five years at one of London’s busiest and most vital bridges. It is not even clear who would foot the bill if any damage is done to the Grade Two listed bridge during construction.

Under planning rules, objectors who have already lodged comments with Wandsworth Council do not need to re-register. However, campaigners are urging residents to speak up again and file fresh objections to ensure that they are heard. People who support the tower can also post their views.

Comments should be filed to the government portal HERE – citing the reference number 6002127 – by midnight on 27th January.

Interested parties can also apply for what is known as “Rule 6 Status”, which allows people or groups to give evidence at the inquiry and cross examine others. Full details on how to request Rule 6 Status are HERE.

Rockwell say that the scheme will deliver 110 flats, including 54 “affordable” homes, plus workspace, a restaurant and a community hub. Wandsworth’s planning committee noted the Rockwell offered no guarantee that the affordable housing would be delivered, as completion hinged on future viability tests. They added the tower would make only a modest dent in Wandsworth’s housing needs. During the planning application phase, it was also revealed that Rockwell’s flats for social rent would be subsidised by the GLA to the tune of £470,000 per unit.

Council officers also pointed out the site sits in a mid-rise zone under the borough’s Local Plan, where six storeys is the maximum height allowable. Labour councillors Jessica Lee and Jamie Colclough said residents wanted to send a “loud and clear message” that profit-driven schemes ignoring local character “aren’t welcome in Battersea”. Conservative councillor Ravi Govindia dismissed the plans as “grossly unacceptable.” The decision to refuse permission was later backed by the Greater London Authority, which ruled there were no planning reasons to cause intervention by the Mayor.

Regardless of the weight and breadth of opposition to the design, Rockwell is digging in for a full-scale fight that will be led by KCs and high powered legal teams on all sides. In a statement to The Citizen, Managing Director Nicholas Mee said: “It is very disappointing Wandsworth Council refused to support this great opportunity for high-quality homes, designed by the world-renowned architects, Farrells. This brownfield regeneration project includes 50% much-needed affordable social rented homes that exceeds Wandsworth’s adopted policy targets. 

“The plans would transform an underused site and replace a building no longer fit for purpose. If London is to meet its housing targets, developments in sustainable locations like this (which attracted 1,900 letters of support) need to be granted without having to go through lengthy appeals.”

Critics have repeatedly questioned the credibility of Rockwell’s letters of support. Following an investigation by The Citizen, it was that revealed many – if not all – of the letters were submitted by an agency paid by Rockwell which despatched canvassers to the Battersea area to solicit signatures.

It is claimed that many people who “signed” were not actually given clear and explicit details of the project that they were supposed to be backing. In fact, some reported later that they were simply asked “Do you support the need for social rent housing in London?”. Their positive answer to this closed question subsequently led to a letter of support in a recurring text template being lodged under their name on Wandsworth Council’s planning portal.

Many people were also enticed to sign via direct email, or adverts on TikTok and other social media platforms. This may explain why countless “supporters” hail from addresses far across the UK, who will clearly have no direct knowledge of the Battersea area. The council has been obliged to post letters to everyone who registered a comment. This applies to the 1,900 “supporters” scattered across Britain that were submitted by Rockwell’s canvasing company.

The planning inquiry will see a dramatic showdown between developers and Wandsworth Council, which has vowed to fight the appeal robustly. Council Leader Cllr Simon Hogg, said: “The Planning Committee were unanimous about the harms of a 29-storey tower in this location, in breach of Wandsworth’s Local Plan which sets out acceptable heights for the area. The Council will robustly defend the decision to refuse planning permission at the upcoming Public Inquiry in March.”

The Friends of Battersea Riverside group also fought strongly against the application and its members have vowed to do whatever they can to ensure the development is rejected. In a statement, a spokesman said:  

“Six months ago, at planning committee, Wandsworth Council refused Rockwell’s application for The Glassmill. This was not a marginal decision. It was unanimous. Not a single vote was cast in favour of this unnecessary building which, if built, would contravene planning guidelines. Rockwell clearly believe these rules are irrelevant and not applicable to them.

“The consequence of this is that Wandsworth CC will now be forced to defend this appeal, a process that will cost the taxpayers huge amounts of money, money that should be spent on public services to the benefit of local residents. Rockwell, however, clearly has no social conscience and will use the best legal team that money can buy to try to win a battle that benefits no one but themselves, all funded by an American hedge fund which does not give a damn about the damage this development will do to a community that fought to prevent it.

“We are appalled that Rockwell is prepared to show total disregard for the democratic process that produced an unambiguous refusal for a development for which there is no support.  We will do everything in our power to support the Council in its fight to defeat this appeal and show Rockwell that money alone should not be allowed to abuse the will of the public.”

 

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