More homes to be built next to Clapham Junction

Wandsworth Council approved the final phase of the new neighbourhood on Tuesday.

The Peabody Estate, on St John’s Hill, has been knocked down in phases for years after housing association Peabody was given the go-ahead in 2012 to build five new blocks with 527 homes on the estate.

The original estate is being demolished because it “does not now fit needs of residents”, according to Peabody.

The new Burridge Gardens housing development which is being built next to Clapham Junction (photo: Local Democracy Reporting Service)

Residents were given the option of staying on the new development, known as Burridge Gardens, which includes a public square and community centre.

In 2019, the number of homes increased to 599 after approval from Wandsworth Council.

The final changes mean 59 more homes will be built on the site, bringing the total to 658, by adding more floors to some of the blocks. 

A statement with the latest application says: “These changes are a consequence of the original scheme being consented over 10 years ago, and the need to ensure the final phase delivers real improvements to support this thriving community with amenities that are needed and wanted by the neighbourhood.”

Under the plans, 243 homes will be available at social rent and 80 at intermediate tenure.

But councillors raised concerns about the increase in homes, height of the blocks and traffic at Tuesday’s meeting.

Councillor Peter Dawson was praised for “speaking up for his residents” as he shared their fears with members. 

He said: “We support the redevelopment of Peabody St John’s Hill estate and welcome the mixed tenure housing that will be created but we are of the view that the application as submitted is seriously flawed and we ask for it to be withdrawn at the time.”

He added: “It’s this steady drift of additional accommodation units that is a very real concern to many local residents.”

Councillors also expressed fears about more traffic on the streets next to the development because of the extra homes.

Councillor Dawson said: “Anybody who knows that location knows it is a horrendous mess. It is congested, it is difficult to park for residents – difficult often to access.”

But the transport strategy team manager said there was “heavy local parking demand” from existing homes on the streets.

He said: “A lot of the problems in those streets are really the local population parking outside their houses, coupled with the commercial activity in Clapham Junction, as opposed to being due to the demands that have been placed on the network from the Peabody Estate.”

Councillor Piers McCausland called the original estate “run down” and said the new plans looked “fantastic”.

He said: “It really does do something for the area. Yes it’s much more dense than we’re used to, this is a trend which I suppose has got to stop sometime, but it does make things more viable.” 

There will be a 24 hour concierge on the development, new public artwork, landscaping improvements and open space including a redesigned public square as part of the final phase.

The new plans were voted through with seven councillors for and three against.

Peabody and Mount Anvil, joint partners in the development’s final phase, have been contacted for comment.