Communities secretary Eric Pickles also endorses plans
Communities secretary Eric Pickles and London Mayor Boris Johnson have both endorsed plans for the redevelopment of the Ram Brewery which will create 661 new homes and more than 500 permanent jobs.
The mayor and the secretary of state have both formally confirmed that they are happy for the landmark scheme to proceed, meaning that the redevelopment of this vacant large town centre site has now moved a step closer.
Around 266 construction jobs will be generated when work gets underway on the site. Hundreds more will be generated by the opening of nearly 11,000 square metres of office space, shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
Ten per cent of the new homes will be affordable and will be offered to low income families in the borough.
The site's historic buildings will be restored and brought into public use as a new micro-brewery and brewing museum.
The banks of the River Wandle will be opened up and a network of public squares and footpaths would run through the site and around the heritage buildings. Approximately 1.2 hectares of new public open space will be created.
The developers will also pay around £16.5m in community infrastructure levy (CIL) which could go towards a redesign of the Wandsworth one-way-system, cut local congestion and divert through traffic away from the heart of the town centre.
Most of the new homes will be provided in a 36-storey residential tower. If the value of the private accommodation increases before the homes are built, the developer will provide a further £1.2m towards the cost of building more affordable housing in the area.
The scheme was approved by the council's planning committee in July, subject to the normal legal agreements.
Wandsworth's planning chairman Cllr Nick Cuff said: "We are delighted that the scheme has now been endorsed by the mayor and the minister. This means that the start of work on this important regeneration project has moved a step closer.
"This large town centre site is full of empty buildings and surrounded by high brick walls and locked gates. These proposals will open it up to the public by making it a popular leisure and commercial quarter. It will also deliver hundreds of new homes and jobs.
"The developer will also be providing a significant sum of money to help with the possible redesign of the one way system that has the potential to remove thousands of cars and lorries from thundering through the town centre every day."
For more information about the scheme visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/planning and key in planning application reference number 2012/5286.
September 9, 2013