Your objection letter will have the most impact if you focus your points on valid planning considerations. We have started to prepare a list of what we think are reasonable and fair planning grounds upon which to base your objections. However, it is likely that we haven’t thought of everything……..you may have other concerns which aren't listed below which are also very valid and should be brought to the attention of Wandsworth Council. Please share these with us……..post them as a comment!
Excessive height
At 26 and 21 storeys, these towers would be significantly taller than all other buildings in the area. The buildings are far too dominant and imposing. They are completely out of keeping with the overall character of Putney.
Intensity of the development
This proposal is a gross overdevelopment of the site. With over 300 flats, almost 3,500 square metres of office space, almost 450 square metres of flexible retail/restaurant/office floor space and 114 square metres of retail floor space, the intensity of the development is too great on a confined site.
Design and visual impact
Design can be subjective, so we’ll leave it up to you to decide whether you like the look of the towers or not (personally, we don’t). Putting appearances aside, there is the issue of visual impact. The adverse visual impact of being confronted by two buildings which tower above everything else in the area is a reasonable concern (and particularly if you’ll get a view of them from your house or garden).
Overshadowing / loss of daylight and sunlight
The towers will result in significant adverse overshadowing impacts upon residences located in Disraeli Road, Fawe Park Road and Woodlands Way. Some properties located in other streets beyond these are also likely to be overshadowed. It is not acceptable that these buildings will overshadow many existing properties and rob us of access to daylight and sunlight!
Overlooking / loss of privacy
The towers will allow considerable opportunity for overlooking into many residential properties in the area, which therefore means that for many properties there will be a serious reduction in privacy. The towers will result in significant adverse privacy impacts upon residences in Disraeli and Fawe Park Roads, some of which will be directly overlooked. This is not acceptable.
Increased pressure on local infrastructure
Putney’s infrastructure is already under considerable strain – and this development will exacerbate the pressure on it. We all know how difficult peak hour journeys (via various modes of transport) are to and from Putney. In particularly, the District Line is chronically overcrowded during peak hours. It is fair to argue that Putney’s infrastructure is already struggling to cope and that a development of this intensity will worsen the existing situation.
Traffic / Congestion / Parking
A development of this intensity is likely to generate a considerable amount of traffic as residents, workers and visitors move to and from the site on a daily basis. The towers will need to cater for deliveries, whether these be the provision of supplies to the commercial premises, or goods to the residential properties. The Upper Richmond Road is often congested, and it is considered that movements (including deliveries) to and from these towers will add to traffic and congestion. You may also have concerns that only 32 parking spaces are proposed.
Impact upon Oxford Road Conservation Area
The Oxford Road Conservation area lies to the immediate west / north-west of the site. The towers will have a detrimental impact upon the historic nature and special character of this Conservation Area. They will harm views within and out from the Conservation Area. They are completely out of scale when considered alongside the low rise Victorian buildings which characterise the Conservation Area.
Precedent
It is very likely that this development will set a precedent (particularly in terms of height) for the redevelopment of many of the other buildings along this stretch of the Upper Richmond Road. Indeed, we already know that the Capsticks site at has been acquired by developers and that they have plans to build a 20 storey tower there (although there is no formal planning application with Wandsworth Council for this yet). It is fair to have concerns about how this proposed development, and the ones that are likely to follow it, will change the appearance and character of Putney, and what the cumulative impacts might be.
