The Wandsworth Council Planning Applications Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, 27 March 2025, to consider planning applications, tree preservation orders and enforcement issues. The committee will also review recent planning decisions and closed enforcement appeals.

Former Gasworks, Swandon Way Development

The committee will be considering a hybrid planning application for the former Gasworks, Calor Gas Unit 9 and 10, Delta Business Park and land west of the River Wandle on The Causeway. The application, submitted by the Mitheridge and SGN Joint Venture, seeks permission for:

demolition of all existing buildings and structures on site and a phased development comprising the construction of buildings across four development plots to include up to 620 dwellings with affordable housing (Use Class C3); up to 4,555sqm of non-residential floorspace; with associated works.

The application includes detailed plans for Building A1, a part 10, part 29 storey building with 178 dwellings and retail space, and Building B, which includes a 3-storey podium and 3 buildings with heights ranging from 13 to 15 storeys, accommodating 204 dwellings, communal floorspace, restaurant, cinema, workspace and retail floorspace. It also includes the change of use of existing railway arches for retail, workspace and a live music venue, as well as vehicular access, parking, an energy centre, landscaping and works to the River Wandle including a riverside walk.

Outline planning permission is sought for Building A2, of up to 12 storeys, including up to 88 dwellings and non-residential floorspaces, and Building A3, of up to 12 storeys, including up to 150 dwellings and commercial floorspace. Access, Appearance, Landscaping, Layout, and Scale are Reserved Matters.

The report pack notes that the outline component contains nearly 90% of the affordable homes within the development, and that the applicant has explained that this approach allows any registered provider taking on the project to construct the homes using their preferred and tested models.

The Planning Applications Committee will also be asked to consider the recommendation from the Head of Development Management (Wandsworth) to approve the application with conditions, subject to a Section 106 legal agreement¹ and Community Infrastructure Levy² (CIL) liability.

The report pack notes that a petition was presented by Councillor Caroline De La Soujeole, Councillor for Wandsworth Town, signed by 128 names raising concerns about overstretched local services, the one-way road system and opposing the 30-storey building.

Balham High Road Development

The Planning Applications Committee will also consider an application for full permission for the demolition of an existing office building at 222 Balham High Road and the erection of two-storey residential buildings to provide 7 x 5-bedroom dwelling houses with associated landscaping, boundary treatment, cycle and refuse storage.

The Head of Development Management (Wandsworth) recommends that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and CIL liability.

Enforcement Action

The committee will be asked to consider a report by the Head of Development Management (Wandsworth) regarding alleged breaches of planning control in the borough. The report pack includes a recommendation to authorise the issue of an enforcement notice and any other legal or direct action that may be necessary to secure the removal of a flue from a property at 24A Florian Road. The report pack notes that the Council's Environmental Health Team have examined the extract system and advised that the low-level emission point of the flues is likely to result in cooking odours, fumes, and smoke entering the windows of the neighbouring property, and that they advised that both flues are unacceptable and possibly a risk to health for neighbouring apartments.

Tree Preservation Orders

The Planning Applications Committee will consider a report from the Interim Director of Place proposing the confirmation of Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) relating to:

• TPO 489/2024 – 18 Balham Park Road, SW12 8DU (Trinity)
• TPO 496/2024 – 26 Dover Park Drive, SW15 5BG (West Putney)
• TPO 497/2024 – 28 Baskerville Road, SW18 3RS (Wandsworth Common)
• TPO 498/2024 – 54 Dover House Road, SW15 5AU (West Putney)
• TPO 499/2024 – Pavement fronting Dial House, 2 Burston Road, SW15 6AR (West Putney)
• TPO 500/2024 – Grounds fronting Royal Mail Putney Delivery Office, 3 Burston Road, SW15 6BW (West Putney)

The report pack notes that no objections or any other comments have been received to TPO 489/2024, and that no TPO application has been made for works to the trees.

Planning Decisions

The Planning Applications Committee will receive a report from the Head of Development Management (Wandsworth) providing information on the number of recent decisions on planning applications made under delegated authority and by the Planning Applications Committee.

Closure of Investigation Files

The Planning Applications Committee will also be asked to note a report from the Interim Director of Place on the closure of investigation files on complaints alleging a breach of planning control during February 2025.

The report pack lists 42 closed cases, including:

• the erection of a fence without permission at 33 Elmbourne Road
• the removal of a chimney stack without Listed Building Consent at Penwortham School House, 102 Penwortham Road
• works without permission at 96C Pirbright Road
• a first floor roof terrace without planning permission at Flat First & Second Floors B, 125 Boundaries Road
• development not in accordance with planning permission 2020/2104 at 65 Vant Road
• development not in accordance with planning permission 2018/3122 at garages east of 21 Granard Avenue
• works without permission at Milliners House, Eastfields Avenue
• change of use without permission at 96 Buckhold Road
• development not in accordance with planning permission 2023/2187 at 2 Old Farm Place, 55 Wandle Road
• works without permission at 6 Pirbright Road
• works without permission at 10 Crowthorne Close
• works without permission at 6 Henry Chester Building, 186 Lower Richmond Road
• estate agent boards at 48,54,74 Hazelbourne Road
• breach of Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) paragraph 6.1 (2024/1244) at 94-96 Granville Road
• works without permission at 29B Sudbrooke Road
• development not in accordance with planning permission 2023/0445 at 51 ST ANNS HILL
• works not in accordance with planning permission ref: 2004/4990 at Yvon House Alexandra Avenue 140 Battersea Park Road 140A Battersea Park Road
• change of use from office to commercial kitchen without permission at 180 Upper Richmond Road
• bar breaching conditions 4, 5 and 6 of planning permission 2022/5026 at 194 - 196 Balham High Road
• gym advertisement at 1 Percy Laurie House, 217 Upper Richmond Road
• compliance check for ensure bin-store has been implemented (2015/0834) at 29 - 31 Upper Tooting Road
• side extension being used as a self-contained home without planning permission at 23 Sellincourt Road
• use of visibility screening without permission at 97 Alfriston Road
• development not in accordance with planning permission 2020/3268 at 134 Cavendish Road
• works without permission at Flat First and Second Floors 137 St Jamess Drive
• use of property as two self-contained flats without permission at 125 Fishponds Road
• change of use without permission at 21 Commondale
• works without permission at 162 Balham High Road
• works without permission at 35 Denton Street
• internal works (suspected works to change use to a HMO) at 53 Linstead Way
• unauthorised change of use at 5 Replingham Road
• storage container placed on site a number of years (not Temporary without pp) at 263 Mitcham Lane
• works without permission at 82 Northcote Road
• works without permission at 96A Balham High Road
• change of use without permission at 17 The Boulevard Balham High Road
• development not in accordance with Conditions 2 and 3 of planning permission 2020/2406 at 1 Totterdown Street
• security cameras installed without permission at 6 West Hill Road
• development not in accordance with planning permission 2022/4598 at 2A Sistova Road
• unauthorised works to TPO trees at Dial House, 2 Burston Road
• works without permission at 6 Sutherland Grove
• unauthorised conversion of property into two flats at 72 Avoca Road
• change of use to short-stay accommodation and front extension without planning permission at 154 Dunston Road

The report pack also includes a document titled Complaints Closed by closure reason, but it is not clear whether this document relates to the closure of investigation files in February 2025.

Closed Appeals

Finally, the Planning Applications Committee will review a report by the Head of Development Management (Wandsworth) regarding appeals closed during February 2025.

The report pack notes that there was 1 appeal allowed, 1 appeal dismissed and 1 appeal withdrawn:

• An appeal against the delegated decision to refuse alterations including erection of roof extension to main rear roof and extension above two storey back addition at 19 Ruvigny Gardens was dismissed. The Planning Inspectorate concluded that the proposal would have an unacceptable effect on the character and appearance of the terrace and therefore it fails to preserve, and would result in substantial harm to, the character and appearance of the conservation area.
• An appeal against the delegated decision to refuse alterations including erection of single storey rear extension at 1 Wildcroft Road was withdrawn by the applicant.
• An appeal against the delegated decision to refuse TPO 352/2008 - T1 London Plane: Reduce height by 13m to previous pruning points at around 9m high at St Mark's School, Boutflower Road was allowed in part. The Planning Inspectorate determined that a lesser degree of pollarding, aligning with the 2017-2018 consent, would remove a reasonable amount of live foliage, whilst also conserving a balance in terms of the tree's future health, and its overall appearance and visual amenity.

Decisions

The Planning Applications Committee will also be asked to note a report on recent decisions on planning applications made under delegated authority and by the Planning Applications Committee.

The Decisions report notes that between 05/12/2024 and 28/02/2025 there were 590 decisions, 526 of which were approved and 64 refused.