Sadiq Khan challenges Mortlake development over lack of affordable housing

Sadiq Khan has challenged a property developer over a lack of affordable housing in a proposed £1.1billion development in south west London.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) said that the 1,075-home development at the Stag Brewery site, in Richmond, may not be signed off by the Mayor due to a lack of sub-market value homes.

Developer Reselton Properties had proposed the scheme on the site of the former Stag Brewery site in Mortlake.

Richmond Council approved the plans last summer subject to Mr Khan’s approval.

In the Mayor’s latest submission, he said that making just 15 per cent of housing units at the development affordable was “unacceptable”. This was later reduced to 7.5 per cent, according to the Architects Journal.

Reselton lodged an appeal against the council’s non-determination of the applications after the GLA said it would oppose the scheme.

In a submission to the planning inspectorate written in February, Reselton said the 158,000m2 scheme would deliver “significant, compelling public benefits” including a secondary school, retail space, a cinema and space for a hotel or pub.

The site would include 65 affordable homes and 1,010 new homes in total, it added.

Reselton said that the scheme would replace a “redundant set of brownfield industrial buildings”.

An inquiry held by the planning inspectorate will decide the fate of the proposals.

But a hearing due to start last week has been indefinitely postponed, Architects Journal reported.

Local residents had previously raised concerns over the number of affordable homes in the scheme, with Mortlake Community Group claiming in a submission that the number of sub-market value homes proposed was “woefully low”.

Last month, Guy Duckworth of Reselton Properties told the BBC that more affordable homes could be considered at a later date.

The Standard has contacted Mr Khan’s office and Reselton for comment.