Rockwell Property has spent the past year bidding to knock down the existing Glassmill building to replace it with a glass and steel tower, plus a 10-storey ‘shoulder building’ at the rear of the property. But the project was dismissed by councillors during an intense debate lasting nearly two hours.

The Planning Applications Committee (PAC) heard damning submissions from councillors that criticised  multiple aspects of Rockwell’s application. Council officers also weighed in with challenges. Amongst the key issues raised were:

• the clear damage heritage assets would suffer from the height and massing of the tower
• the lack of detail as regards the construction phase
• the financial viability for Rockwell to ultimately deliver 50% affordable housing as promised in the plan
• Rockwell’s strategy of paying a public consultation agency to solicit letters of support

In summing up the meeting before the vote was carried, Chairman Cllr Tony Belton stated bluntly: ‘I see no-one supporting this application, from whichever position.’

Holy Smoke: How news of the council’s vote was announced on Rob McGibbon’s Change petition blog

The planning scheme, entitled ‘One Battersea Bridge’ (OBB) by architects Farrells, has faced widespread opposition since it was formally lodged a year ago. A petition called S.O.B.B – Stop One Battersea Bridge was launched by Rob McGibbon – Editor of The Citizen – which attracted more than 5,000 signatures and the support of leading personalities, including Sir Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Bryan Adams, Felicity Kendal, Anthea Turner, and Lord Browne of Madingley.

As of today, the council’s planning portal has received 2,005 objections to OBB and 1,892 letters of support -which were almost entirely submitted by Rockwell via an agency.

In front of a packed pubic gallery, members of the committee took turns to criticise Rockwell’s scheme. Caroline de la Soujeole, St Mary’s ward, said that “there has been unprecedented opposition to this scheme” and added that – if it were approved – it would “make a mockery of council policy” as regards tall buildings, and that it was “quite simply the wrong building for the wrong site”.

A CGI image of the doomed tower that has been toppled by the council and people power ©Glassmill

She went on to say: “It should be noted that the housing proposed here for social rent is stated to be “subject to viability”. There is no guarantee that the level of afforable housing will actually be provided.”

Referring to the letters of support on the portal, Cllr Guy Humphries, Southfields ward, expressed “concern” over how the letters were gathered, saying “there is a feeling that the other side hasn’t played fair and square with their approach”.

Councillor Ravi Govindia, for East Putney, described the application as “grossly unacceptable” because the height was driven by the need to make up for the high costs of purchasing the site. Cllr Govindia said:

“The applicant, having paid an enormous sum of money for the site, is then recovering that investment by jacking up the building. I think it’s right that the applicant should get the message that it is not for us and the local community to bear the negative side of their bad economic decisions. I am totally against it.”

It is understood that Rockwell stood to pay £45m for the site – believed to be ultimately owned by the Domino’s Pizza corporation – if they were granted planning permission. It is also understood that Rockwell took on a £5m high interest loan from Cerberus Capital Management, an American investment group with £50bn worth of assets, to finance the OBB bid. It also paid £1.5m for the Glassmill site in order to proceed with the planning application. It now has six months to appeal the council’s decision.

Cllr Fiona Ayres, also for East Putney, said the building “is so enormous it is almost a joke”.  Laughter was heard from the public gallery when an officer played a ‘before and after’ slide show on a large projector in the council chamber revealing what the Battersea area would look like if the tower was built.

The Citizen requested Rockwell’s media statement earlier today, but has had no reply. This is despite the statement being made readily available to other media organisations.

Nocturne: Looking across to Glassmill from Cheslea. Imagine the light pollution from a 29-storey tower

The Daily Telegraph reports on the planning committee’s decision