The Planning Inquiry into the applications for development at the Stag Brewery site on the riverside at Mortlake commences on at 10.00 on 29 May 2024. The independent, government appointed Planning Inspector who will decide the appeals is Mr Glen Rollings. It is a public inquiry and anyone is free to attend. The venue is the Exchange Building, 75 London Road TW1 1BE near Twickenham Station.

The hearing was listed for eight days. The Inspector decided to extend the hearing to ten days sitting on 29-31 May, 4-7 and 11, 12 and 14 June. Documentation is set out at Stag Brewery – Gateley (gateleyhamer-pi.com)

What is at stake?

The fate of Mortlake will be decided in the next couple of months. The site has largely been unused since it was vacated in 2011. It needs to be put into proper use. The current proposals are (in short) for an estate of about 1100 residential units (of which 7% would be affordable housing) and a 1200 pupil academy secondary school.

Procedure

The Planning Inspector will read the written evidence and hear oral evidence. He then prepares a report and submits it to the Secretary of State (currently Michael Gove), who can accept or reject it. The present timetable allows for a decision to be announced on 6 August 2024.

He will hear evidence from the main parties who are the developers, Reselton Properties, the London Borough of Richmond (LBR), the Greater London Authority (GLA) and third parties who are Mortlake Brewery Community Group (MBCG), supported by the Mortlake with East Sheen Society (MESS), the Barnes Community Association (BCA), the Kew Society and the Richmond Society) and separately the West London River Group and Towpath Group.

These parties will be represented by Counsel and will have the opportunity to present evidence and through Counsel to cross-examine the witnesses of other parties. It is known that the GLA has budgeted for costs of £450,000. MBCG is funded by local donors, a kind of double taxation as they are also unwillingly funding Council representation.

Other persons with an interest will have an opportunity to make representations but not be cross-examined or question witnesses. This includes Cllr Niki Crookdake on overall viability, representatives of local schools who are opposed to the siting of a secondary school, Tim Catchpole setting out an overall position on behalf of MESS and Richard White who will be drawing to the attention of the Planning Inspector the falsification of letters of support by agents for the developers for the planning applications in July 2023.

The Main Issues

• The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, in particular in relation to building height, density and massing and the loss of the Protected Sports Field;

• The effect of the proposed development on the historic environment;

• The effect of the proposed development on transport, with particular regard to sustainable travel, effects on the movement network and parking provision and highway safety;

• The effect of the proposed development on the environment, with particular regard to any impacts on the River Thames and its towpath, air quality, water and drainage, spoil and waste from the site, and impact on climate change;

• The effect of the proposed development on education provision; and

• The effect of the proposed development on the supply of affordable housing.

The overall viability of the site must be in question, especially given the existing neighbourhood infrastructure and the impact of the proposals.

These matters  will be elaborated on during the coming fortnight.

The GLA is known to be opposing the plans, primarily on the basis of harm to the heritage and the lack of affordable housing. They are silent on the need for the school, not being an education authority. They are silent on transport issues being beholden to Transport for London, which has raised no objection to the proposals. The Health Authority are silent on the anticipated stress on already overstretched health provision.

The Bottom Line

The development will affect the Mortlake and East Sheen Community for a generation. Some will say approval is necessary because it has been empty too long, for which they blame their opponents. Others will argue that, although it is a space that needs development, it must be a benefit not a detriment to the local community, nor just to satisfy the financial demands of the Council and the developers.

This is the first genuine and independent opportunity for local residents to be heard, as they have previously been ignored by the dominant forces of councillors from other parts of the borough. By no means all the councillors are comfortable with the proposals but a three line whip has been rigorously imposed by the ruling elite.

Future Plans for the Blog

It will be updated on major points over the next fortnight and then report as frequently as possible during the hearing.