Importance of the RBK Core Strategy


The last 2 posts have been about this borough’s Core Strategy, which is our planning blueprint for the future of our borough, going forward into the next decade. It is important that the newly adopted document is sufficiently robust to repel inappropriate developments, especially at certain Key sites. 

When the Filter beds were sold by their Australian owners (by the process known as asset stripping) it was marketed along with 20 other Thames Water sites across London  considered ‘hard to develop’. The 'easy' sites had long been sold off by the previous German owners, Kvaerner, and their new tenants were already sitting in their living rooms watching 'Eastenders' or gazing out over the London Wetlands Centre (the mitigation for the development of the reservoirs at Barnes). 

Read the blurb about the likely planning outcomes for this site (emboldened below within the OLD For Sale notice) which was sold (relatively) cheaply on the basis that it would never realise fortunes. So where did the idea arise that 64 homes centrally located on the main heritage and conservation areas and surrounded by boat and car parking followed our Core Strategy, which clearly states that the Filter Beds are not suitable for any housing development (page 28). Please comment on these posts, feedback is always welcomed and if any of the information is inaccurate please let me know so I can make changes or provide the underpinning documentation.


FREEHOLD RIVERSIDE SITE FOR SALE
RIVERSIDE LAND, PORTSMOUTH ROAD
SURBITON, SURREY
                         About 13.57 acres (5.49 ha) approx

 LOCATION 
Surbiton is an affluent residential commuter suburb lying about 11 miles south west of London’s West End and alongside the River Thames. The property forms riverside land to the west of Portsmouth Road (A307) between Kingston upon Thames and Thames Ditton. 

DESCRIPTION 
An area of land of about 13.57 acres (5.49 hectares) that was formerly used as water filter beds. The property can be accessed from Portsmouth Road. 

PLANNING 
The site is of nature conservation importance (OL11), is designated Metropolitan Open Land (OL4) and forms part of the strategic Green Chain network (STR7). 

The local plan also states that an extension of riverside walkway will provide an important link in the Thames riverside walk (OL13) allowing views of the river and into the site. 

Access should be from Portsmouth Road. 

The boundary walls and railings and former Chelsea Waterworks drainage pumping house are buildings of townscape merit (BE8). 

It should be noted that in the previous version of the Local Plan, PS35 included residential as a potential land use for this area, however when the Council revised the Local Plan, they removed this reference to residential use. 

However, a sensitive layout that carefully balances open space provision, use of the water, with development at an appropriate scale in the least sensitive parts of the site (potentially the northern parcel and southern parcels) may have a greater chance of success. 
Planning authority: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames tel: 020 8547 5757 

LEGAL COSTS 
Each party to bear their own legal costs. 
SERVICES 
None of the systems, equipment or services in the property have been tested by us. Interested parties may wish to make their own investigations. 
TERMS 
Offers invited for freehold interest. VAT will be charged on the sale.



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