“Delivery, Delivery, Delivery” was the key message at the first meeting of the Wandsworth Developers’ forum this week. Addressing a packed room of developers, planners, architects and housing specialists, the new Council Leader, Rob Morritt, and Planning Chair Ravi Govindia made it plain they want development to start working again in the Borough. Their doors will now be open to hear about new ideas and approaches and seeing if they can be made to work.
Cllr Govindia told the forum that the latest statistics showed that virtually all completions of housing schemes in Wandsworth had been consented under the previous Conservative administration and before 2022. His priority would be to “give permissions and get delivery done”.
Wandsworth Local Plan
Both Cllrs Morritt and Govindia were unhappy with the current Wandsworth Local Plan, adopted under the recent Labour administration. However, they advocated updating it and undoing damage it was likely to cause rather than changing it by returning formally to the drawing board. The latter, they said, would delay progress and hinder development. Cllr Morritt recognised the council needed to give “Clear guidance and give it swiftly” while Cllr Govindia said “It’s about the willingness to explore the flexibility of the plan”.
Future Regeneration Opportunities
The Council Leader recognised there would be differences between the current Wandsworth administration and City Hall under Sadiq Khan. Morritt felt that Khan’s 35% affordable quota was still a high figure for developers to achieve and thought there may need to be trade-offs to get development done. Regarding the council’s own regeneration schemes he let slip that the GLA had given Wandsworth 40% of what it requested in terms of GLA grants, which he described as a “significant chunk”. The council would now be looking for JV partners, with an emphasis on both sides trying to make the partnership work.
He was disappointed that Clapham Junction had lost its designation as an “Opportunity Area” complaining that along with Victoria it was the last of the busy stations not to have been given a “face lift”. However, he said that Wandsworth would continue to support its regeneration along with the Wandsworth Town area.
Cllr Govindia also pointed out that Balham and Tooting had good connectivity which could aid regeneration in the southern and central corridor in the Borough.
Difficulty in finding social providers
Developers complained that schemes were failing due to a difficulty in finding social providers for affordable housing. Both Councillors said they would be happy to consider a flexible approach. Councillor Morritt said “it’s worth talking to us” while Councillor Govindia added “With Battersea Power Station we took a risk on things and the site is better for taking the risk”.
Attracting First Time Buyers to the housing ladder
In its heyday as the Jewel in Thatcher’s crown Wandsworth led the way in council house sales and encouraging young residents to buy their own home. Asked what measures they would take to help the current generation of youngsters seeking their first homes Councillor Morritt felt that the recently announced First Homes government programme would help. He thought the offer for starter homes tended to go in cycles such as BTR, co-living etc and said he wouldn’t rule any type of accommodation firmly in or firmly out. Quality was the prime consideration he was looking for. However, it was Councillor Govindia’s comments that perhaps summed up the new administration’s approach to all development. “It’s about how we can make Wandsworth’s homes bespoke; taking a concept and making it fit the Borough’s needs”.
← Back to Council Watch
