Release date: 16/09/2009

By: Steve Mayner
Telephone 020 8871 7524 or email smayner@wandsworth.gov.uk

• Comment on this article

US Embassy plan clears first hurdle

 Wandsworth Council has granted outline planning permission for the construction of a new US Embassy at Nine Elms.

The site covers just over five acres on the south side of Nine Elms Lane and straddles the existing Ponton Road which will be repositioned. It is the first major scheme to come forward in the Nine Elms opportunity area.

The detailed design of the building will be settled following a competition involving four US-based architectural practices.

The embassy will be in the centre of the site and set back 30 metres from its boundaries. The building’s height has still to be determined but will be in the region of 15 to 20 storeys. The final design will have to preserve existing views of the Palace of Westminster.

The outline permission is subject to detailed negotiations on contributions to the cost of local and strategic transport improvements. This would include funding towards Crossrail or the council’s preferred alternative of a Northern Line extension from Kennington. This could include a station at Wandsworth Road.

Other improvements include a new pedestrian and cycle link between Wandsworth Road and Nine Elms Lane, improvements to the riverside walk and a new ‘park’ which could take the form of a green chain running through the site from Vauxhall to other new developments in the area.

The full schedule of improvements will also have to be approved by Transport for London and the Mayor of London.

The Embassy will employ 800 people and offer jobs for local people. It is the first of a series of major developments now expected to come forward that will change the face of the mainly industrial area of Nine Elms.

Planning applications chairman Leslie McDonnell said:

“This is an outline consent which sets out the broad terms on which the development can proceed. It is very much the first hurdle. There is a lot of detail still to be resolved. Most of this will become clear once the winning design has been chosen. This will then require a series of detailed approvals from the council.

“At this stage we will be looking closely at the building’s appearance from Nine Elms Lane, the effect on important local views from Albert Bridge and Chelsea Bridge and the impact on Battersea Power Station.

“We are delighted that this scheme is moving forward. It promises to kick start the wider regeneration of this part of north Battersea and encourage further development on other sites in the area.”

The planning applications committee approved outline permission for the Embassy development (September 16). The application will now be considered formally by the Mayor of London.

The wider Nine Elms area comprises around 450 acres of land on the Thames riverside and is the biggest regeneration opportunity in central London. The council has identified the potential for thousands of new homes and jobs in the area which stretches from Vauxhall Bridge to Battersea Park.

You can view the planning application at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/planning (reference 2009/1506 and 2009/1507).

Ends

Sign up for daily news alerts at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/subscribe

Make and view comments on this article

Your name

Your email (not displayed on site)

Your location Please select Balham Battersea Clapham Junction Earlsfield Putney Roehampton Southfields Tooting Wandsworth Other London Other UK Outside UK

Your comments You have characters left.

I agree to the terms and conditions

Important notice
You must carefully read and then agree to the Terms and Conditions (link opens in new window) before accessing the message board and posting a comment. If you do not wish to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, you may not access or use the message board.
If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us at press@wandsworth.gov.uk or to the member of the press team shown at the top of the page.

---

Your comments

The most recent comments made about this article.

I'm very curious as to how much this is going to cost council tax payers in the area? Even with a financial input and contributions the associated costs especially with security will be huge. Not to mention the fact that the US Embassy have a huge outstanding bill for congestion charges and traffic offences that they refuse to pay, currently estimated at £3.5 million. What guarantee do we have that any future costs caused by them will be met and not left to the tax payer to pick up. I realise they will be outside the congestion zone but their refusal in the past to pay makes me greet their propsed move with some doubt.
Rob Breaks - Tooting

what will happen to the royal mail site in nine elms
alan casey - London