The plans for the new US Embassy building in London’s Battersea do not currently comply with Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s London Plan – but the issues could be rectified, a planning document has revealed.
Johnson’s verdict was outlined in a letter sent by Giles Dolphin, head of planning decisions at the Greater London Assembly, to planning authority Wandsworth Council.
The US Government wants to develop the Embassy on a site bought from Ballymore in the Nine Elms Opportunity Area overlooking the Thames. The architects for the scheme on the 5 acre site are Zimmer Gunsul Frasca.
In a planning report, the Mayor’s team said that the principle of the development, which includes a 500,000 sq ft embassy building, entrance pavilions, and a new road, was supported.
However it said that, subject to discussions on whether and how the area will be included in Crossrail contributions, a £2.6m contribution may be sought.
It had other issues with the layout and inclusive access. It called for a design panel for reserved matters applications to be secured in the section 106 agreement. It also said further work needed to be done on transport and climate change within the context of the 106 agreement.
