And another one! Thanks to Wandsworth Council series of approval, 20 storey towers become now the norm (or a starting point) for developers in York Road area.

Big Yellow Self-Storage Company has submitted a screening application (p.a. 2018/2369) for demolition of the existing buildings and redevelopment of the site with 168 residential units in stepped buildings up to 20 storeys in height, a new self-storage warehouse unit, approximately 79 new car parking and 336 cycle spaces within a basement, landscaping, and formation of new public space and pedestrian and vehicular access.  

Wandsworth planning department decided that there is no need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for such application, despite proposing more than 150 new homes. The officer justifies the decision as being a similar development to many others in the area.

The report follows with a (scary) naming of the recently approved and on-going developments for the area:

• 58-70 York Road (The Chopper PH): 5, 9, 11, 13 and 14 storey with 82 residential units.
• 98 York Road: 17-storeys and 173 residential units (nearly achieved).
• 100 York Road, 110 York Road and car park (and car showroom) to rear: Erection of a 25 storey building comprising 136 flats.
• 198 York Road: podium building with three buildings above (providing part 2, 6, 8, 11 and 24 storeys plus basement level) to provide 299 residential units.
• Plantation Wharf Estate, York Place and Gartons Way, SW11 3UF: 2016/5644: four new buildings 5-, 6-, 8-, and 16-storeys high, and including erection of 6-storey extension at the top of Trade Tower (following removal of level 13).
• 38 Lombard Road (Heliport House): 2013/6052: 15-storey residential tower with roof garden and projecting winter gardens to provide 14 residential flats constructed over the existing five-storey mixed use office and residential Heliport House building (20 storeys high in total).
• 12 – 14 Lombard Street: 2014/6909: 28 storey building comprising 135 residential units.

At that speed of redevelopment, it won’t be long before Travis Perkins follows Homebase and B&Q and is pushed away from the area.

It should be noted that in 2015, Wandsworth local plan indicated that building above 9 storeys would be unlikely to be approved… then you can just consider how seriously the Council is considering their own policies.