Reservoir Cottage - saved!

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Residents celebrate Putney Heath planning decision

Putney Heath residents were last week celebrating the rejection of a developer’s appeal to demolish local 150 year old landmark, Reservoir Cottage on Wildcroft Road and replace it with modern flats.

The decision means that the site, which is part of Metropolitan Open Land and in a conservation area, is now protected from future large scale development.

Justine Greening photographed below is Putney’s Conservative parliamentary candidate, and spoke on behalf of residents at the informal public hearing in July, is delighted at the result:

"Putney Heath is a beautiful, peaceful spot enjoyed by so many local people. Along with other residents, I wanted to make sure it stays that way. We have precious little open space in the immediate Wandsworth area, and the Metropolitan Open Land designation is all about ensuring those open spaces are protected.

This decision will hopefully protect the site from inappropriate large scale development in the future and clearly supports Wandsworth Borough Council’s original decision. "

The original planning application would have seen Metropolitan Open Land (the city version of green belt) built on in spite of its protected status. When the original planning application was made earlier in the year, it was refused by Wandsworth Borough Council earlier in the year as being "inappropriate". The developer then appealed directly to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to have an informal hearing which was finally held on 20 July.

August 17, 2004