Despite Kingston Council rejecting the application, the campaign continues. However, we recommend reading this page in full.

The application was called in by the Mayor on 7 April and the GLA now becomes the local planning authority.

Original comments to Kingston and Merton should be made available to the GLA. If you did not submit comments, or wish to submit a second objection just to make sure, or an amended objection, you can do so here for the Merton part. Remember to click on the confirmation email if you do. The Kingston part appears to be closed for comments.

You may wish to consult Kingston’s Committee meeting to see what they considered problematic with the proposal. The minutes and webcast are available here. There are also many new documents on the Kingston and Merton planning portals that provide new insight into the application. For example Sutton’s objection, reports by both the Kingston and Merton Urban Design Officers, and independent reviews for ecology and financial viability.

Objecting

Anyone can object or comment. We would recommend writing your own letters. People using the same template is less effective. Evidence and personal knowledge are very important. It can also help to think long-term, ask what you ultimately want to achieve, and consider the public interest. Concentrate on the issues that matter to you rather than trying to cover everything. Be concise, courteous and factual.

Overview of the application

The proposal consists of 586 dwellings, in 5 tower blocks, 8-16 storeys high. Construction traffic will be a one-way-system, north-south. Post-construction, vehicle access is via the south only (Green Lane), with cycle / pedestrian access to the north.

Understanding the scheme & application(s)

The application consists of hundreds of documents. The main ones are listed on our Planning Documents page. The same documents have been submitted to both Kingston and Merton Councils.

The Kingston application is for the overall build and southern access route. The Merton application is for the access routes to the north, Marina Avenue and Sir Joseph Hood.

Writing Objections

For some inspiration please see the Key Objections Menu. If you are writing an objection to the GLA, you may want to think about how this application also negatively impacts London. For Example, the terrible K5 bus route and lack of night bus means residents will be excluded from London’s night-time economy and essential jobs.

Many websites provide objection advice, however, please note that different councils have different planning policies.

An overview of the main applicable planning policies and guidance relevant to this development can be found here. It is good practice to base your objections on policy and to quote it. With Kingston’s Local Plan considered ‘out of date’, and the possibility of a Mayoral call-in, the London Plan takes on increased importance.

Below are some guides to objecting provided by reputable organisations:

Campaign for the Protection of Rural England

The Brighton Society provides good advice on commenting effectively on planning applications. They also provided objection guidance for the Brighton Gas Works development.

This 30 page booklet was written by someone who became frustrated with the internet and decided to bring everything together.