Photo Rockwell Property
The Citizen Campaign – Save Battersea Riverside
The fight continues to stop a voracious property developer from building an enormous apartment block on the south side of Battersea Bridge. If granted permission, One Battersea Bridge would set a dangerous precedent that could lead to more towers and, ultimately, the devastation of this relatively untouched stretch of the riverside. Further to the west would also be in danger.
The original planning application by Rockwell Property was vehemently opposed by thousands of residents and a plethora of respected groups, including Historic England, Environment Agency, the Emergency Services, RSPB and multiple London societies. It was also roundly opposed by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Wandsworth councils.
Following a lengthy meeting of Wandsworth Council’s planning committee last April, the proposals were unanimously rejected. Despite all the highly considered opposition to its plans, Rockwell Property appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. This has prompted a costly public inquiry that begins on 17th March at Wandsworth Town Hall and will last eight days.
This page provides all the background to the proposals and to the campaign which started in June 2024. to stop it. The Chelsea Citizen will be covering every day of the public inquiry. Its reports will be posted here.
Press Gazette interview – Save Battersea Riverside campaign highlighted to the powers of UK media
Rob McGibbon was interviewed for Press Gazette by writer Alice Brooker to mark the first anniversary of The Chelsea Citizen. The article covered a range of issues about the successes and challenges during the first year of the hyper-local journalism venture. The piece...
Riverside Radio – Rob McGibbon discusses the campaign to Save Battersea Riverside
In this interview for Jason & Ali’s Breakfast Show on the Battersea radio station, Rob McGibbon talked to reporter Patrick Hess about the forthcoming Public Inquiry into the Battersea Bridge tower. They discussed the determined efforts by thousands of residents,...
‘I was tricked into supporting the Battersea Bridge tower’
A disgruntled Battersea resident has told how he was "tricked" into publicly supporting the controversial Battersea Bridge tower planning scheme. Digital technology strategist Pedro Silva, 52, who lives near the tower being proposed by planning giant Rockwell...
Rolling Stone Mick Jagger joins the band to oppose the “toxic tower”
Long-time Chelsea resident Sir Mick Jagger lends his considerable support to the S.O.B.B campaign