By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 250 new homes have been approved as part of a new riverside development to be built next to Wandsworth Bridge.
The existing structures on the Albert Wharf/Swedish Wharf site in South Fulham, including several ‘shed-like buildings’, will be demolished, and replaced with a mixed-use development featuring blocks up to 17-storeys tall.
The applicant, Henley Investment Management, has also said it will safeguard the wharfs for ongoing use, and introduce a new jetty.
At Hammersmith and Fulham’s latest planning and development control committee meeting, Ian Rickwood, chief executive at Henley Investment Management, described the scheme as “a prime example of how underused brownfield land can be repurposed to help meet housing need in London”.
Amounting to a total of 276 homes, 35 per cent of which will be ‘affordable’, the redevelopment is the latest granted approval along the South Fulham riverside.
These include the former Hurlingham Retail Park, located the other side of Wandsworth Bridge, on which will be built 269 homes, and the Fulham Riverside development, to the east of the Albert Wharf/Swedish Wharf site, which has already been completed.
The new scheme has undergone numerous amendments since pre-application discussions in December 2020, at which stage buildings up to 23 storeys and 350 to 380 homes were envisaged.
The plot of land concerned is right next to Wandsworth Bridge, although it does not include Porcelanosa showroom. (Picture: Google Earth)
The re-working of the plans was noted by officers during Tuesday’s meeting, at which a primary concern raised by multiple councillors was that of noise.
Cllr Wesley Harcourt compared it to people moving into housing around Fulham FC’s stadium, Craven Cottage, or Queen’s Park Rangers’ ground in Shepherd’s Bush.
“It’s the same sort of principle,” he said, “so I’m concerned about the residents, obviously, and I’m aware of the possibility of the noise, but I think there’s plenty [that’s] been said in terms of mitigation and such like.”
The council’s legal officer told the committee the noise limit would need to be set at a predetermined level, although she believed a small percentage increase may be considered acceptable if circumstances changed.
Cllr Alex Karmel aired his objection to the scheme’s design, saying it was not consistent with surrounding architecture and is ‘over dominant’.
Of the five-person committee sitting, two (Conservative councillors Cllr Karmel and Cllr Adrian Pascu-Tulbure) voted against the application, with all three Labour members backing it.
Mr Rickwood said following the meeting: “The development will completely transform this part of the riverfront and the continuation of the Thames Path will create riverside access for new residents and the existing community.”
Pictured top: A CGI of the proposed new build (Picture: EPR Architects)
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https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/news/wandsworth-bridge-development-given-the-green-light/
