Residents from across Putney have joined forces to fight a second application for a late-night rooftop venue on top of Putney Exchange.
Submitted under a new name, the proposed development seems to be a re-run of the Pergola on the Roof application that was withdrawn last year after a large number of objections and comments were received by Wandsworth Council and circulated in online forums.
Despite an unprecedented level of concern from residents, the Putney Exchange shopping centre along with the owners and developers have re-submitted proposals for a very similar development this year.
The new submission has angered residents who feel that their comments were dismissed too lightly by the Exchange last year.
The new proposal, for a venue called The Palm House, would see the roof level car park of The Exchange turned into a rooftop drinking venue and pop-up restaurant.
With a proposed capacity of 700 people at any one time and plans to stay open until 11.30pm with extensions to 2.00am, 7 days a week, all year around, residents are concerned about the significant noise and disruption this will inevitably cause.
The original planning permission for the Exchange included safeguards and restrictions on the use of the car park to ensure the wellbeing of surrounding residents, but residents have suggested the new plans "run roughshod" over these safeguards for no benefit to the community.
Analysis of comments from concerned residents posted on the Council’s website at the end of January suggested that noise, loss of parking, and a feeling that the Exchange rooftop was an improper venue for the new development were uppermost in residents’ minds.
Other issues, including anti-social behaviour, pollution and traffic concerns, followed closely behind.
Nicholas Austin 34, of Putney High Street said: "It is obvious from the new plans that they have ignored all the concerns from residents in the area.
"The residents think a food led venue would be good for the area, but this is not food led, it is drinking led, which seems to be hidden in the the planning application.
"A food court would have a lot of support in the area. But there isn't the need for night time activities. There is a problem with the day time venues. These plans would take away from all the night time activity we already have in the area."
Pergola have been approached for comment.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here