The Stag Brewery development on the east side of Ship Lane, if approved, would comprise alterations and extensions to existing buildings and erection of buildings varying in height from three to nine storeys plus a basement of one to two storeys. There would be floorspace for retail, financial and professional services, food and drink outlets, a hotel and public house with accommodation plus a cinema.

The heights of six of the proposed buildings exceed the maximum height of seven storeys permitted in local plans or approved by the GLA.

The Homebase development recently approved by the Mayor of London has residential units in five blocks ranging from four to eleven storeys.

At the Public Examination of the 2023 Richmond Local Plan the Inspectors heard evidence about the height of buildings planned for Kew Retail Park. Marks and Spencer, the major store at the site, are planning to demolish and redesign the store. The owners, St. George’s, asked the Inspectors to recommend to the Council that they should remove an existing restriction on the number of storeys that could be built there.

So what are the implications of current thinking from architects and developers? We seem to be at risk of becoming part of the tall buildings strip from Teddington to Vauxhall. Compare Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia. They may be financially beneficial to some. But who owns all those apartments and are they actually answering the housing problems we have?