Wandsworth’s ‘sickening’ Plantation Wharf savaged by MP over names linked to slavery

A London development has come under fire due to names linked to the slave trade, as Battersea MP Marsha de Cordova joins calls for it to be renamed.

Plantation Wharf in Battersea has left Londoners horrified after it was revealed to have offices and buildings named after elements of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Names such as ‘Cotton Row’, ‘Trade Tower’, ‘Ivory Square’ and ‘Molasses Row’ have shocked the public as many call the project “tone deaf”.

READ MORE: Londoners outraged over ‘horrific’ Battersea office development named after slave trade

Marsha de Cordova, MP for Battersea, has condemned the development for names that she says have “mocked the history of the brutal transatlantic slave trade”.

Speaking to the Standard, the MP said: “What does it make you think of? The brutal trans-Atlantic slave trade.

“It glorifies what was an abhorrent enslavement of African people.

“It goes back to people just having an awareness of our history and our values as British people. In this day and age we can’t have buildings and streets named things such as this. It is offensive.”

She went on to brand the controversial names “sickening”, as she revealed that last year she asked Wandsworth council to review the choices.

Plantation Wharf, which sits between Battersea and Wandsworth Bridge, was built by developers 30 years ago.

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The development is a mixed-use meeting space primarily for companies and businesses, and is also a site for restaurants and multi-million pound apartments.

A photo shared to social media exposing the project received an outpouring of anger and shock.

One person wrote: “Overpriced development with a dash of slavery. Who the hell came up with the names, and who the hell signed off on them?!”

“Who approved this????” added another.

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Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, the Honorary Chairman of Plantation Wharf, previously declined a call with MyLondon, however she did say the newly formed Board “accepts change” and is considering unveiling a plaque that discloses a history of the site.

Dr Brady said: “This Board was formed in June 2021 and one of our first priorities was to review the history of the name and its heritage.

“The Board decided to consult with leaseholders and also with stakeholders generally as to the appropriateness of the name for today.

“The Board accepts and embraces change, one suggestion is to install a plaque disclosing the history of the working wharf along with the opinion of those who own and work at the development on the names we have all inherited.”

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https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/wandsworths-sickening-plantation-wharf-savaged-22093532

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