The legal eagle who led the battle to gain permission for a tower of luxury apartments by Battersea Bridge spoke out to STOP a 10-storey building marring an historic part of west London, The Citizen can reveal.

Russell Harris KC (King’s Counsel) gave an impassioned statement last August at a meeting of Hounslow Council’s planning committee AGAINST a 42m high development known as 1 Burlington Lane by Hogarth Roundabout in Chiswick.

The Citizen makes no suggestion of any professional impropriety on behalf of Mr Harris for speaking out on this matter. Indeed, The Citizen applauds all campaigners who take a stand to champion the views of others, particularly in matters of planning.

Mr Harris is a pre-eminent planning KC who has successfully helped win consent for some of the largest and most controversial developments in recent times. As his chambers’ website proudly states, he fought for The Shard, Battersea Power Station, towers at Vauxhall, the £10bn Earl’s Court redevelopment and the scheme to build over Wimbledon Park golf course by the All England Lawn Tennis Club. He represents several Premiership football clubs and is “promoting for” a 42-storey development in Islington for Sir Norman Foster.

Most recently, Mr Harris has represented National Grid in its plans to install a 114-mile stretch of electricity pylons across the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Campaigners and Historic England argued that the pylons will damage country views, most notably of the medieval St Remigius Church in Roydon. Mr Harris told an inquiry last month that the pylons would cause “less than substantial harm” to the view of the much-loved church.

Planning Inspector Joanna Gilbert’s recent decision to dismiss Rockwell Property’s appeal to build its Battersea tower is a significant set back for the company and its legal team.

The citation on Mr Harris’ profile page on Landmark Chambers in London is filled with glowing reports of his successes and professional portfolio. In the final section it declares: ‘He is described as “the king of complex and contentious tall building schemes in central London.”  Previous surveys describe him as having “carved out ‘a second-to-none reputation’ when dealing with major controversial schemes in London“, and as a “phenomenal advocate” who is “good on his feet on the day”.’ He has been nominated as Planning Silk of the Year on several occasions, but, sadly, has never won.

Last March, Mr Harris – a silk since 2003 – led Rockwell Property’s appeal at a public inquiry into Wandsworth Council’s refusal for it to build a 29-storey tower in Battersea. The planning application was unanimously opposed by councillors and by swathes of groups and residents, including rock stars Sir Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton.

During the public inquiry, Mr Harris spoke in defence of Rockwell’s bid. He called the tower “a tall landmark building” that is “entirely appropriate and justified for this location”. He described it as the “gateway to Wandsworth” and the “last work” of the late architect Sir Terry Farrell.

At a meeting of Hounslow Council’s planning committee on 7th August 2025, Mr Harris struck a quite different tone from the professional position he often has to take when it comes to tall buildings. He was critical of the council for granting planning consent for 1 Burlington Lane. He said that residents felt that it “destroyed” the view of St Nicholas Church as well as the “protected vista” from the south bank of the Thames.

The development will provide 132 flats is on the site currently occupied by the disused McCormack offices, which were built in 1985. There is much support for the project locally, not least from nearby businesses that are struggling to survive.

The Citizen has unearthed the filmed recording of the August planning meeting. Mr Harris was joined by Mr Simon Morgan, who was representing the St Nicholas Church.

In the video – which can be viewed on YouTube here –  Mr Harris talks eloquently of the concerns residents and groups have for the proposed development. He is also critical of the council’s procedures during the application process. He has also written critically in some detail about the council and its decision in a newsletter for the Old Chiswick Protection Society (OCPS). Mr Harris is its President.

 

During a break in the public inquiry on 20th March at Wandsworth Town Hall, The Citizen asked Mr Harris if he would talk to us about a story. We made it clear that the dialogue would be “on the record”.

We convened to a seat in the hall outside the main chamber and we asked him directly about his opposition to 1 Burlington Lane. After a three minute conversation, Mr Harris abruptly ended the encounter stating that he was unaware it was “on the record” – which it clearly had been. He insisted that any comment he had made during the interview should not be directly quoted.

Mr Harris told The Citizen that he had announced his withdrawal from the campaign to stop 1 Burlington Lane at the AGM of the OCPS in December. At that meeting, he was also re-elected its President.

In February, the OCPS announced plans to seek a judicial review of Hounslow Council’s decision and a legal challenge was filed in the High Court. The case is being handled by Mr Andrew Parkinson, a lawyer in the planning department at Landmark Chambers. According to Landmark’s website, Mr Parkinson has worked with Mr Harris on the Wimbledon tennis club development.

During late March, the OCPS launched a crowdfunding campaign on Just Giving to raise £25,000 to pay for its legal costs for the high court challenge. As of today – 22nd May – the appeal had raised £17,186 from 110 supporters.

Earlier this week, The Citizen contacted Mr Harris to request a comment about the Planning Inspector’s decision as regards the Glassmill site, but has not yet received a reply.

 

 

 

Architectural images of the proposed development 1 Burlington Lane overlooking Hogarth Roundabout and its flyover