Brewery decision blow for town centre

Hopes of a solution to traffic problems in Wandsworth town centre have been hit after ministers refused planning permission for the Ram brewery redevelopment.

The Minerva scheme, which would have paid for £41m of improvements to the Wandsworth one-way system, was approved by the council's planning applications committee in December 2008.

The decision follows a public inquiry in November 2009. The proposals would have provided more than 1,000 homes and 400 jobs and had been backed by the Wandsworth Town Centre Partnership and the Mayor of London.

The full development comprised four town centre sites including the Capital Studios complex on Armoury Way and the former Young's offices in Buckhold Road.

Cabinet member for strategic planning Ravi Govindia said:

“This is very disappointing. It comes down to the inspector’s own opinion on the design of the towers. He said that the location was suitable for tall buildings – just not the ones proposed.

“It’s particularly frustrating because he recognised the importance of the scheme to the regeneration of the town centre and the overwhelming need to resolve the traffic issues. He accepted too that the Minerva scheme was the only way of paying for this.”

The council is now studying the detail of the decision.

Read the decision