Category: Local News

A new use for the Southside Debenhams

Developers LandSec with Invesco have been granted planning consent to convert the 70,000 sq ft store, which has been vacant for a year (apart from a charity Christmas pop-up store) into a leisure hub.

The ground floor will have an electric go karting track, the mezzanine will offer a family entertainment centre and high ropes climbing and the first floor will be used for bowling, indoor golf, darts, pool and basketball with restaurants.

It will certainly bring a new sort of evening economy to Wandsworth Southside which must already be on tenterhooks about the future of the Cineworld complex.

Jaggard Way proposal refused at appeal

The Inspectors Report, issued on 3 December, has refused to accept the appellant’s case and has refused the appeal. The Inspector based his case largely on the daylight and sunlight reductions which would be caused to neighbouring houses in Ravenslea Road. In addition he cited the planning use as principally workspace in this popular estate which is fully occupied.  The harm to the Listed buildings close by and the Conservation Area were also stated as additional grounds for refusal.

Together on Climate Change

Wandsworth Council are holding a Climate Summit with six virtual sessions with representatives of the Council, residents, community groups and organisations to discussing key issues surrounding climate change in the borough. These will be held on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November 2020 covering topics including recycling and waste, green space, how to ‘green’ your home and how to get involved. Find out more and book your space at http://ow.ly/KAnB50C5TR5

Stop Trashing Wandsworth Common!

During the fine weather at the end of June all the Coomons, including Wandsworth Common, have been invaded by sunseekers – often picnicking and leaving vast amounts of rubbish. The Friends of Wandsworth Common and those paid to empty bins have made a sterling effort to clean up but the littering shouldn’t be happening in the first place.

38 Degrees have set up a petition and you can add your name to that in the hope of effecting some important drivers including fining perpatrators to reduce the problem:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-trashing-of-wandsworth-common

Debenhams in Arding & Hobbs closed forever

Sadly an icon of Clapham Junction since 1885 will not re-open after the lock down closure and the store is now boarded up.

This has been on the cards for a while. It goes back to Debenhams’ CVA process (a sort of ‘voluntary bankruptcy’) last year where Debenhams asked landlords at 105 stores all over the country (including the Arding & Hobbs building) for rent cuts so they could afford to keep trading. In exchange the landlords were given a consolation prize of being able to end the leases early if they found a better deal.

Most landlords just accepted this, but in Clapham Junction’s case, W Real Estate found it was a great opportunity to make a quick return by selling it for redevelopment. And that is what they have done.