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.
Public Inquiry Day 5: Temperatures rise as Rockwell’s KC clashes with council officer
The long-running battle over the controversial Battersea Bridge tower roared back into life this week — with campaigners insisting they are quietly confident of seeing off the “monster” scheme. As the high-stakes inquiry entered its second week, opponents said the...
Public Inquiry Day 4: “This is the Donald Trump of planning applications…cold-hearted and vain, driven by ignorance, arrogance, and avarice”. Rockwell slammed in stinging statement
Veteran Fleet Street journalist and campaigner Rob McGibbon yesterday launched a blistering broadside against the controversial Battersea Bridge tower — warning it will “blight homes” and “wreck lives”. McGibbon, who is the editor of The Chelsea Citizen, delivered a...
Public Inquiry Day 3: Fury as Battersea Society criticises Rockwell for “deceitful PR campaign”
Emotions exploded at the Battersea Bridge tower inquiry as a leading residents’ group tore into developers Rockwell — branding their tactics a “deceitful PR campaign.” In a blistering attack, The Battersea Society’s Dr Michael Jubb accused the firm behind the...
Public Inquiry Day 2: Heated clashes over light, height and the sky high costs for a seat at the table
Residents living close to a proposed 29-storey tower at Battersea Bridge yesterday warned that the development would deprive their homes of vital daylight. Occupiers of apartments in Albion Riverside and Thames Walk said that the new building would cast significant...