Welcome to the website for community engagement on the potential for providing new homes for council rent on sites within the Ashburton South Estate.

Wandsworth Council is planning to develop small sites across the Borough as part of its Homes for Wandsworth Programme, to deliver much-needed new homes for council rent to meet the needs of the Borough’s residents now, and for generations to come.

We recently presented our detailed proposals for five sites across the Ashburton South Estate at our second public exhibition on 15 September 2023. You can view more details about the sites using the menu bar to the left or by scrolling down.

We hope that you were able to join our first drop-in community engagement session on Saturday 26 November 2022,our first public exhibition on Friday 28 April 2023 and Saturday 29 April 2023, and our second public exhibition on 15 September 2023. If you were not able to make it to the events above, please visit our Downloads section, which hosts a copy of the information boards that were on display at the events.

Please have a look at Our Timeline, which provides an overview of the timing estimates for these proposals and the planning process.

If you have any questions or queries, please do Get In Touch.

Click the button below to register and keep up to date with these projects.

Community Engagement

We hope that you were able to join our first drop-in community engagement session on Saturday 26 November 2022, our first public exhibition on Friday 28 April 2023 and Saturday 29 April 2023, and our second public exhibition on 15 September 2023.

If you were not able to make it to the events above, please visit our Downloads section, which hosts a copy of the information boards that were on display at the events.

To view the applications please visit Wandsworth Council’s Planning Explorer using the reference numbers below to search for the applications:

2024/0381: Innes Gardens
2024/0382: Hayward Gardens
2024/0383: Cortis Road

What is the Homes for Wandsworth Programme?

There is an exceptional need for new homes in the Borough with, at present, over 11,000 applicants on the Council’s housing waiting list, over 2,700 of whom are in temporary accommodation. Wandsworth Council approved a development programme in 2017, with the aim to build 1,000 new homes across the Borough on sites within the Council’s ownership.

Following the 2022 elections, Wandsworth Council has been targeting a series of actions to address the housing crisis Wandsworth faces. One of these is the Homes for Wandsworth programme’s focus on council homes. This will deliver 1,000 council homes – over 500 more than previously planned.

These homes would be delivered for local people and would be normally allocated to existing council tenants from the Estate, or the wider vicinity, who have an existing priority due to their homes either being overcrowded or underoccupied. This would then free up homes for those on the waiting lists.

The sites on the Ashburton South Estate were chosen after a comprehensive site assessment process, managed by Wandsworth Council, which has taken place over the last five years.

No existing homes on the Ashburton South Estate will be demolished as part of these proposals.

For more information about the Homes for Wandsworth programme, including answers to the most frequently asked questions, please visit: https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/housing/council-led-development/

The Potential Development Sites

The sites identified within the Ashburton South Estate will provide much-needed new homes for council rent for existing local residents and those on the current waiting list. The Council is committed to providing over 1000 new homes across the Borough as part of its core objectives.

In addition to the new homes, we‘ve explored opportunities to improve and enhance the existing open spaces, play spaces and community amenities for existing residents on the Ashburton South Estate. More detail about these enhancements can be found on our banners from our September exhibition, available in the Downloads section.

Your local knowledge, thoughts, and suggestions throughout the consultation process have provided valuable insight for the design team to consider as they’ve developed the proposals for each site. Though not every suggestion or piece of feedback could be incorporated into the detailed proposals, we are confident that these detailed proposals strike the right balance to provide much-needed new homes for council rent while being sensitive to residents’ concerns.

Additionally, following your feedback, site surveys and assessments are now available in the Downloads section to view and download.

Click the map below to enlarge it - you can also click on each site to find out more!

Location plan showing sites on Ashburton South and Whitnell Way

Meet the Team

London Borough of Wandsworth has appointed a professional project team to work with them to develop proposals for the sites. The team includes:

Our Timeline

The timing set out below are target dates and subject to change as we progress through the design and planning process.

November 2022 Public drop-in to involve the local community and invite you to share your thoughts and knowledge to help us develop our ideas for the sites
Early 2023The project team collated and analysed all feedback inform the development of proposals for each site
28 & 29 April 2023 We hosted a public exhibition to share our emerging proposals with the local community and obtain feedback
9 May 2023We hosted a public webinar to share our emerging proposals and answer questions from the local community. Public workshops begin on specific key design themes, like landscape, green spaces and play
July 2023We hosted a walkabout led by our landscape architecture team to explore play locations and elements
August 2023Our community newsletter was distributed to residents of the Ashburton Estate to provide a summer update on the proposals and provide information about our next steps

Further walkabout planned between community groups as a follow up to the July session
September 2023 We hosted a public exhibition to share our detailed proposals with the local community and obtain final comments
February 2024 Planning applications for the sites within the Ashburton South Estate submitted pending validation by the Wandsworth Planning Authority for consideration
Spring 2024 We expect to receive a decision from the Wandsworth Planning and Building Department on the applications submitted for these proposals
Late 2024/Early 2025 Estimated start date for construction works subject to planning approval being granted

Have Your Say

Thank you for taking the time to visit our consultation website to learn more about the detailed proposals for five sites within the Ashburton South Estate as part of the Homes for Wandsworth programme.

Over the past few months, the team has been hard at work developing the detailed proposals for the sites and we presented them on 15 September 2023 at our second public exhibition. If you couldn’t attend or would like to view the materials again, they are available in the Downloads section.

The planning applications for the sites within the Ashburton South Estate has now been submitted pending validation by the Wandsworth Planning Authority.

To view the applications please visit Wandsworth Council’s Planning Explorer using the reference numbers below to search for the applications:

2024/0381: Innes Gardens
2024/0382: Hayward Gardens
2024/0383: Cortis Road

Downloads

November 2022 Exhibition FlyerView/Download

November 2022 Feedback FormView/Download

November 2022 Exhibition BannersView/Download

April 2023 Exhibition FlyerView/Download

April 2023 Feedback FormView/Download

April 2023 Exhibition BannersView/Download

May 2023 Webinar RecordingView/Download

August 2023 Community NewsletterView/Download

Feedback ReportView/Download

Innes Gardens - Drainage/CTV SurveyView/Download

Innes Gardens - Ecology (PEA) AssessmentsView/Download

Innes Gardens - Noise Impact AssessmentView/Download

Innes Gardens - Tree SurveyView/Download

Innes Gardens - Tree ScheduleView/Download

Innes Gardens - Topographical SurveysView/Download

Cortis Road - Contaminated Land AssessmentView/Download

Cortis Road - Drainage/CTV SurveyView/Download

Cortis Road - Ecology (PEA) AssessmentsView/Download

Cortis Road - Noise Impact AssessmentView/Download

Cortis Road - Tree SurveyView/Download

Cortis Road - Tree ScheduleView/Download

Cortis Road - Topographical SurveysView/Download

Hayward Gardens - Drainage/CTV SurveyView/Download

Hayward Gardens - Ecology (PEA) AssessmentsView/Download

Hayward Gardens - Noise Impact AssessmentView/Download

Hayward Gardens - Tree SurveyView/Download

Hayward Gardens - Tree ScheduleView/Download

Hayward Gardens - Topographical SurveysView/Download

Parking SurveyView/Download

Daylight and Sunlight AssessmentView/Download

September 2023 Exhibition FlyerView/Download

September 2023 Exhibition BannersView/Download

September 2023 Central Play Areas BoardView/Download

September 2023 Play Areas BoardView/Download

September 2023 Comments CardView/Download

FAQs

The scope of the Homes for Wandsworth programme

Would all new flats be for council rent?

Have alternative sites been considered? Can't housing need be met through larger regeneration schemes such as the Alton Estate?

Alternative sites across Wandsworth have been considered and multiple developments have already been completed as part of the Homes for Wandsworth programme, providing much needed homes to those on the Council's housing waiting list. A list of other sites to provide new council homes around the Borough can be found here. The sites on the Ashburton South Estate were chosen after a comprehensive site assessment process over the past five years, initiated by the previous Council administration.

Would existing Ashburton Estate residents be able to move into the new properties?

Any new homes will be allocated in line with the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme. A local lettings plan will be put in place which will take into account the Council’s wider policies on housing as well as local demands and pressures, including from those existing Council tenants who may wish to downsize, or those who are overcrowded. Any local lettings plan will not become operational until development has moved considerably forward in its construction programme.

Are there any plans for the vacant units on Tildesley Road?

What is being done to tackle existing crime and anti-social behaviour problems?

Proposed changes to the Ashburton Estates

What wider estate improvements or benefits could we see?

We received lots of feedback following our initial drop-in information event for the sites in November 2022 and our first public exhibition in April 2023.. Combining all of the feedback, the design team has looked at options for improving green spaces, play spaces and the potential for community gardens. More information about these improvements can be found on our banners in the Downloads section.

What would happen to existing green areas, seating areas and trees?

There is no net loss of green space associated with the proposed buildings, as the majority of the proposed buildings’ footprints are on areas of existing hardstanding. Existing green spaces will be retained as they are, however, the low biodiversity lawns are proposed to become bee lawns, which would be drought-tolerant and attractive to pollinators. Other enhancements include areas with new planting and seating.

The design team is working with the Council’s tree officer and an independent tree specialist to retain as many trees as possible. Trees to be removed will be re-provided, at least like for like. Tree species are chosen from the Council’s tree list to ensure longevity and retention of the Estate’s leafy character.

What would happen to the existing play areas?

When will current repair and maintenance matters be addressed?

Garages and Storage

What provisions would be made for anyone currently letting a garage or storage area?

Anyone currently renting a garage or shed from the Council can request a transfer in writing. The Council will seek to accommodate these requests as far as possible, however transfers will be dependent on the availability of units. Where the proposals will involve the removal of an existing garage or storage area, notice will be given in advance to allow time for alternative arrangements to be made.

Access & parking

What would the arrangements be for car parking across the Ashburton Estate, for both existing and new residents?

Parking capacity surveys for the Estate have been undertaken and have been used to inform the latest proposals. This includes the planning policy requirement to ensure that adequate parking for people with reduced mobility is provided as part of any future plans. The design team is also looking at potential improvements to parking availability across the Estate through options for reconfiguring existing parking areas.

Please view the Landscape and Play and Transport and Access banners available in the Downloads section for more information.

What thought has been given to the existing road capacity and effectiveness of the one way systems?

Our transport planners visited the site multiple times and commissioned surveys to understand the current traffic and parking conditions within the Estate. No existing traffic issues were observed on roads within the Estate and the surveys showed that streets surrounding the proposed sites have spare parking capacity. Based on the number of potential additional vehicle trips created by the proposed developments, our transport planners have assessed that there will not be a significant impact on daily fluctuations of traffic within and around the Estate. A detailed Transport Assessment will form part of any future planning applications for development on the Estate, and this will be robustly tested as part of the assessment of the proposals to establish its compliance with relevant planning policy and highways regulations.

HOW WILL SCHOOLS IN THE ARE BE CONSULTED REGARDING INCREASED TRAFFIC AND SAFETY?

WHEN WILL THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING SURVEY BE CONDUCTED AND WILL IT OCCUR OVER A CERTAIN PERIOD TO ACCOUNT FOR DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TRAFFIC AND PARKING?

You can view the parking survey as part of the scoping note in the Downloads section of this website. A detailed Transport Assessment will form part of any future planning applications for development on the Estate, and this will be robustly tested as part of the assessment of the proposals by the local planning authority (LPA) to establish its compliance with relevant planning policy and highways regulations.

Construction

What would be the arrangements for construction of any new development on the Estate, and how long would it all take if the developments were to go ahead?

The Council will, in liaison with its consultants and contractors, seek to minimise disruption and disturbance to existing residents as far as possible. A Construction Management Plan (CMP) would form part of any future planning application and would be a condition to the grant of planning permission. This, in effect, would require the development to comply with agreed standards and methodologies for logistics, access for construction vehicles, dust mitigation measures, pollution control, disturbance minimisation and any other construction matter deemed relevant for the sites in question. The final CMP would be the result of extensive discussions with the Council.

Any appointed contractors would be required to provide regular updates to local residents on the nature of works to be carried out and the dates for those works. A site manager would be appointed to act as the primary point of contact for construction-related enquiries.

An estimated start date for construction works, subject to planning approval being granted, is late 2024/early 2025. We estimate that construction will take around 18-24 months in total.

HOW MUCH WILL THE NEW HOMES COST TO BUILD?

Residents’ petitions

WHEN WILL BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE PROPOSALS BE AVAILABLE?

Petitions received were reviewed at Wandsworth Council’s Housing Committee on 21 June 2023. Through these, some members of the local community have registered their interest in the material that is being used by Wandsworth Council and the project team to inform the plans for each site. To ensure that everyone has equal access to this information, the current completed reports have been made available on this website, so that the material is accessible to everyone. When the planning application has been submitted to the local planning authority, all relevant information (including studies, drawings, and technical information) that has been prepared by and used by the project team will be submitted and able to be viewed by the public on the local planning authority’s planning portal.

WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A PUBLIC BALLOT FOR THE PROPOSALS FOR THE ESTATE?

The Ashburton South Estate proposals are proposed infill developments. No existing homes are proposed to be demolished and the schemes are different to wider estate regeneration efforts, such as at the Alton Estate in Wandsworth. This is the reason why the Ashburton South Estate proposals have not required a public ballot on whether residents support the principle of preparing proposals for consideration by the local planning authority.

New tenants

WILL THE NEW TENANTS BE PAYING A SERVICE CHARGE AND IF NOT, HOW WILL THESE NEW BUILDINGS BE REPAIRED AND SERVICED?

Contact Us

Thank you for taking the time to visit our website today. Should you require any of the information from this website in another format or hard copy please do get in touch with us on the details below.

By Phone (open from 9.30am to 5pm)

0207 446 6869

By Email

ashburtonsouth@stantec.com

By Post

Ashburton South Community Engagement Team
c/o Stantec
7 Soho Square
London
W1D 3QB