Tileman towerblock back, only this time it's being pushed by the Tory Chair of Planning

The planning application to build a 16-storey towerblock on Upper Richmond Road at Tileman House is back again - and virtually unchanged from it's original incarnation.

But much more worrying, Putney Conservatives are actively pushing to get this plan agreed, in the face of overwhelming objections from local people.

Last weekend, East Putney's Conservative councillors - who include the chairman of the Planning Applications Committee - distributed a letter to residents presenting the developers' case FOR Tileman House. You can read the Tory letter here.

They claim this letter does not advocate for the development. Yet there is not one argument against the 15-storey block in it, and several that the developers themselves would make. I've written a line-by-line rebuttal of every claim the Conservatives make in their letter, which you can read here.

The Conservative Council has also begun sending letters to itself supporting the plans: pretty much all the supportive comments come from the Council itself.

This appears to be a clear and organised campaign to prepare the ground for an approval of this application. An application that will set a precedent for all future plans for Upper Richmond Road - where 16 storeys will become the new baseline for future development. We need to say no, now.

Don't forget to send in your own views on this application. The deadline is 6th July, but responses will be accepted after this date. E-mail planningapplications@wandsworth.gov.uk.

More affordable homes; fairer allocations

The draft Queen's Speech was launched yesterday. It contains ten key initiatives for the coming year and you can read the document: Building Britain's Future here.

For me, the stand-out initiative was the expansion of Labour's affordable housing programme. Housing is my number 1 political priority because it is such a big problem locally - made even more pressing by the global recession.

The critical idea in Building Britain's Future is not the extra funding - some £110 million for affordable housing; or the recognition - at last - that we need many, many more affordable homes to rent; but the changes to how these homes get allocated.

It is right that need for a home is by far the top priority in allocating homes. But until now it has been the only consideration. That means that for many, many people on the housing waiting list there is no realistic chance of getting housed because those in greater need constantly get slotted-in ahead of them.

Length of time on a waiting list must be given due consideration. It's why, locally, we in Labour are arguing that Wandsworth's housing allocations policy should give those on the waiting list 10 points for every year they are on it. That is hardly a radical change - but what it does is create an escalator for everyone.

What it must not become, however, is an excuse not to build many more affordable homes. The fact that the Conservatives have halved the amount of affordable homes to rent in our borugh: from 32,000 to barely 16,000, is the critical reason why we have such a massive housing problem in Putney.

We need more homes, and fairer allocations. The Conservatives want to sell off even more affordable homes, will slash investment in housing if they ever get into government and oppose our fairer allocations plan. That's the clear choice on housing.

New Putney Paper out now

Click here to read the Summer 2009 edition

Southfields' Oxford Street-style makeover
Plans for new crossings Click here

A nicer Neville Gill?
Pedestrian zone for this forgotten part of Wandsworth town Click here

Point Pleasant 20mph plan
Riverside Quarter could get safer streets Click here

Armed Forces Day
Stuart highlights borough commemorations Click here

Danebury Barrier victory
Stuart's campaign stops Tory plans to create a Roehampton rat-run Click here

English Heritage says East Putney under threat
Tory plans get the area on an at-risk register Click here

Ed Miliband visits Putney
Climate Change Secretary is guest at Labour Annual Dinner Click here

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Published and promoted by Adam Gray on behalf of Stuart King, both of 35 Felsham Road, Putney, London SW15 1AY