The final full day of the explosive Battersea Tower public inquiry witnessed a dramatic late intervention yesterday from the Government’s Environment Agency — raising fresh fears the controversial high-rise could put flood defences at risk.
During Day Six of the inquiry, an urgent email landed in Planning Inspector Joanna Gilbert’s inbox from Government planning adviser Shea Bunyan.
The message carried a stark warning: before a single brick is laid on the proposed 29-storey tower, developer Rockwell must prove the scheme won’t damage or undermine vital Thames flood defences sitting less than 16 metres away.
Bunyan warned bluntly: “Without these demonstrations, there is no evidence to demonstrate the development will not be compromising the structural integrity, effectiveness and stability of the flood defences.”
And she made the stakes crystal clear — if that proof cannot be provided, the scheme should not go ahead because of the risk of increased flooding.
Campaigners opposing the tower seized on the intervention as a major breakthrough. Philip Whyte, of the Wandsworth Society, told the inquiry: “This is a good step forward.”
Earlier, residents’ groups had grilled Rockwell’s key planning witness Jonathan Marginson, who stood firm in defence of the scheme. He described the tower as being of “the highest architectural quality” and insisted its 110 homes were “critical” to tackling London’s housing crisis.
But that claim was swiftly challenged. William Walton, of the Battersea Society, pointed out that Wandsworth is already one of London’s top-performing boroughs for housebuilding — and is currently exceeding the Government’s five-year housing targets.
Marginson hit back, insisting the borough cannot rest on its laurels. “London is not a single housing market,” he said. “Every borough has a duty to meet the housing crisis.”
Transport links were also put under the spotlight. Rockwell has touted the site as well connected — but Walton countered that the nearest Tube station is a 29-minute walk away, with Clapham Junction a 25-minute trek on foot.
As the high-stakes hearing nears its conclusion, all eyes now turn to final submissions, which will be made today. Then, Inspector Joanna Gilbert, effectively the Government’s referee, will close the inquiry and begin the process of making her decision.
Behind the scenes, optimism is growing among campaigners. Residents’ groups told The Citizen they are “quietly confident” the appeal will be thrown out.
Rockwell’s managing director Nicholas Mee – the only person during the proceedings who has refused to allow his photograph to be taken by The Citizen – struck a more cautious note. “I’m sorry, I don’t have a view on it,” he said when approached by this reporter. “A lot of evidence has been heard and we’ll await the decision.”
Inspector Gilbert announced yesterday that she expects to deliver her ruling by early May.
The inquiry continues
