Neighbours have blasted City Hall over the decision to reconsider a rejected scheme for more than 700 homes in Charlton, calling it a “travesty” and “betrayal”.

Residents were in uproar when Rockwell proposed bulldozing buildings to build 11 blocks of flats, up to 10 storeys tall, featuring 771 homes.

The Mayor of London last week called in Greenwich Council’s decision to reject the scheme for the Charlton Riverside, meaning he will now act as the authority and the planning process begins again.

A petition calling on the council to enforce its £800k Charlton Riverside Masterplan, which campaigners said had been ignored in the application, was backed by hundreds of people/.

The council’s planning board unanimously threw out the application last month.

Chairwoman Cllr Sarah Merrill said at the time: “I think this application in absolutely no way resembles the spirit of the masterplan, in terms of height, massing and design. Some of the design is resemblant of Stalingrad.”

Travesty 

The secretary of Atlas and Derrick Gardens Residents Association, who started the petition, said reconsidering the proposals was an attack on democracy.

Lindsay Barnett said: “Democracy doesn’t seem to be working in a legitimate way. There was a unanimous decision by our elected councillors, and for this decision to now be made in another office, in central London, it doesn’t give much confidence in the democratic process.

“This isn’t about nimby-ism. We live in 80 small flats in the conversion area – it’s much bigger than us. There’s a flawed process for London. If it was just sent straight to the Mayor it would have saved time and energy.

“Nearly a million pounds has been spent on the Charlton Riverside masterplan and five years of thought went into it – to ride a horse and carriage over it is really short-sighted.

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Rockwell proposals 

“The decision was made and we feel it’s a travesty, it’s a betrayal of the democratic process. It’s not us making the decision, it was the elected representatives.”

Mr Barnett said the Rockwell application was important because it would set the precedent for future developments along the riverside.

“It’s the Thames riverside, it belongs to every Londoner. Just to hand it to developers could end up with ugly waterfronts – our major concern is that it is so important to get it right because it will set the precedent for the next phases of riverside development.”

“Listen to residents”

Rockwell proposed 771 homes in land near Hope and Anchor Lane, 35 per cent of which have been earmarked as being affordable.

The application was blocked after a meeting that featured several objectors, including Squeeze singer Glenn Tilbrook.

Matthew Pennycook, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, said the Mayor of London must recognise the concerns of Charlton residents over major regeneration proposals for the town’s riverside.

Mr Pennycook said: “While I fully understand the pressure the Mayor is under to build more homes in London as the market falters, I’m deeply disappointed that City Hall have chosen not to back Greenwich Council and stand behind the local community’s very strong objections to the proposed scheme.

“City Hall must appreciate that there is a very strong feeling locally that we not compromise on the vision set out in the 2017 Charlton Riverside masterplan.

“That is why it’s crucial that development across the entire Charlton Riverside opportunity area, including any modified proposals from Rockwell, respect the vision of an exemplary urban district set out in that master-plan document.

“For Rockwell’s site that means not only a higher level of affordable housing, and a modified dwelling mix, but also reductions in the proposed height of buildings. If that requires reductions in the total number of units then, in my view, that’s what needs to happen.”

London Plan

In total, 11 new buildings, the smallest of which is two storeys, were proposed, with space for shops, bars and restaurants alongside 210 car parking spaces.

Rockwell has said it is delighted the Mayor has stepped in, adding it will “look forward” to working with him.

Sadiq Khan has called in the scheme saying the proposed development would have a significant impact on the London Plan and the delivery of affordable housing.