The mayor of London Sadiq Khan has thrown out plans for a £1.5bn scheme to build 1,250 homes on the site of the Stag Brewery in south west London over affordable housing concerns.
Stag Brewery housing scheme : Squiare & Partners
Sharelines
Khan throws out £1.5bn Stag brewery scheme #ukhousing
The mayor has now overturned Richmond Council’s decision to approve the scheme by Reselton Properties, a subisidary of Singapore-based City Developments Limited.
The mayor’s decision was based in part on the lack of affordable housing in the scheme, which had been raised from 17.5% to 30%.
Greater London Authority guidance states that all new housing schemes should have a minimum of 35% affordable requirement.
Speaking at a London Assembly representation hearing on Tuesday, Khan said that concerns remained over the affordable housing aspect of the scheme. He said: “Despite the hard work of the GLA team, the public benefits offered would not clearly outweigh the harm.
“I’m particularly concerned that the affordable housing offer which remains below the expectations that I have in my plan does not unbalance the adverse impacts of the development.”
The development in Mortlake included 356 affordable homes, up from the original 138, as well as a hotel, restaurant, cinema and school. The mayor’s decision was welcomed by Mortlake Brewery Community Group, who said the scheme was “a terrible scheme that will destroy Mortlake and the surrounding area as we know it”.
Local Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Sarah Olney also welcomed the decision.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor has rejected plans for the redevelopment of the Stag Brewery site in Mortlake.
“Although the developers improved the affordable housing after the Mayor called in the application, taking it from as low as 12 per cent to 30 per cent – it still doesn’t meet the Mayor’s expectations in line with the new London Plan.
“The increased height and density of the scheme around the historic Maltings building in an important riverside location would also have a negative impact on the open spaces in the area.
“Despite the hard work of the GLA team, the public benefits offered would not clearly outweigh the harm to the surrounding heritage sites and riverside views.”
Inside Housing has attempted to contact Reselton Properties.
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/khan-throws-out-15bn-stag-brewery-scheme-71891
