At one point, I thought I might have a vested interest in seeing this application fail, but that is no longer the case. I do, however, continue to object on the basis that the building will not enhance the local area, and will set a precedent for building higher on the Albert Embankment. (You can see from the image below that Salamanca Tower is quite high enough). The building would dominate the landscape, looking from South London towards North London, and it would begin to close off the river for everybody that lives south of the Albert Embankment. It has been argued that there are taller developments in Vauxhall, but I think they're significantly far away that they should not count as a precedent for the 81 Black Prince Road site.
I failed to mention that the first attempt at planning permission was denied on 11/2/2009. The minutes to the planning meeting can be found here.
If you consult the minutes, you'll see that it was a close call. The permission was only, eventually, rejected on grounds of:
1. The harm that would be caused to the setting of the World Heritage Site,
2. Impact on the setting of listed buildings and adjoining conservation areas;
3. Poor quantity and quality of the proposed amenity space.
4. Overbearing impact of the proposed development and the creation of a sense of enclosure.
Unfortunately, the developers are appealing the decision made not to grant permission.
An appeal was lodged on 6/4/2009 and can also be found in the Lambeth Planning Database under reference 09/00048/FULREF.
Unfortunately, the appeal papers don't appear to have been uploaded to the database in this instance, so I've written to the Town Planning Advice Centre to request them.
I've been informed that any submissions from the public (which I believe have to refer to the conditions for refusal) (items 1 to 4) have to be submitted by 18/5/2009.
Submissions have to be sent to the Planning Appeals inspectorate in Bristol in triplicate to the following address:
The Planning Inspectorate, PO Box 326, Bristol, BS99 7XF.
Also, they have an online appeal process that can be accessed here.
I found an image from skyscrapercity.com alt="81 Black Prince Road outline"which I've pasted below, so that you can get a view of scale and some idea about how the external structure would look:
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3 comments:
This one's technically just in SE1 - we've got another picture here:
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/3742
I'd missed the fact that they'd appealed - thanks for flagging it up.
You're correct, the proposal is in SE1 (mostly because SE1 is a very peculiar shape, and includes the river front).
However, it would affect mostly SE11 residents were it erected (not to mention people would north of the river that would over look it).
I've amended the blog to read accordingly, and will happily flag up anything on SE1/SE11 boundaries.
I would advise anyone living around Vauxhall Walk and Black Prince road to appeal against this development. The appeal reference is APP/N5660/A/09/2101423 and it can be done online as stated above.
I have searched the web for details of the developers Ristoia Ltd who are making this planning application and must admit that I've drawn a blank apart from the fact that they're registered in Ireland.
However, I discovered this little gem on the web from the minutes of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority:
2. In addition there is a planning application which appears to be receiving favourable consideration by LBL for A site located at 81 Black Prince Road, the outcome of which may influence the 8 Albert Embankment proposals. If this application is approved it could lend additional weight to NL’s arguments for building height in the ‘viewing corridor’ and the amount of affordable housing. The determination of this application is expected in April this year.
I could only assume after reading these documents that compliance with Lambeth Council’s Planning procedures is not considered to be important or mandatory by developers and it may be up to Westminster Council to apply pressure for the World Heritage Site to be respected.
The question is: Is this planning application merely a decoy for worst to come at the London Fire Service Headquarters building behind the listed Doulton building?
NL = Native Land and these guys do have a few bob and a heavy weight portfolio of properties on the Southbank.
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