The Ram Brewery could house the most significant collection of brewery buildings in England, the public inquiry looking into the £300m redevelopment of the historic site has heard.
But, it also heard, plans – which include creating twin towers, one 42 storeys high the other 32, as well as other commercial and residential space – could be the most exciting development since railway revolutionised the borough.
Both arguments were put before the inquiry on Friday, which is judging whether developer Minerva’s plans to revamp the historic site should go ahead.
On Friday Dale Ingram, a Tooting resident and conservation consultant, said she felt compelled to address the inquiry to save the brewery’s Grade II and Grade II* listed buildings.
She said her research showed the Ram Brewery was one of only three purpose built industrial breweries remaining in the UK.
She told the inquiry: “The significant appraisal of the Ram Brewery shows that we have, potentially, the most significant surviving collection of brewery buildings in England.”
Earlier the inquiry heard from Councillor Stuart Thom who said the project was “the most exciting thing since the Surrey Iron Railway” – which linked, in 1803, parts of south London, including Wandsworth, by rail.
He said he supported the development as the potential to create housing, jobs and retail outweighed any losses.
The inquiry earlier heard concerns about the height of the towers, the affordable housing allocation (which accounts for 11 per cent of the development), the viability of schemes to improve Wandsworth’s one-way traffic system and concerns about the loss of life should a gas holder at the north end of the site explode.
All of Wandsworth’s amenity society’s (Battersea, Wandsworth and Putney) submitted a joint objection against the plans along with the Clapham Junction Action Group.
Many, including Councillor Tony Belton, leader of the labour group in the council, Battersea MP Martin Linton – who wrote to the Communities Secretary after Wandsworth Council approved Minerva’s plan last December – and residents’ groups spoke at the inquiry.
After the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, signed off the project, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears “called-in” the decision – citing concerns with the towers’ height and affordable housing.
Leader of Wandsworth Council called the call-in decision “unbelievable”, adding that it jeopardised £600m of development.
The inquiry, which is being held at the Capital Studios in Wandsworth Plain, concludes this week after hearing three weeks of evidence.
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