Landmark appeal sees Fish Island development approved

A landmark planning appeal against the refusal of planning permission by the London Legacy Development Corporation at Anderson’s Swan Wharf site in Fish Island has been successful. The historic decision issued by the independent Planning Inspectorate will see the sensitive renovation of a locally significant heritage asset, alongside the delivery of 42 new homes including affordable homes, affordable workspace and a community bar/café.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) was deemed to have wrongly refused permission for the site back in January 2019.

Planning Inspector Jennifer Vyse DipTP Dip PBM MRTPI concluded that the proposed development would not be harmful to the character or appearance of the Fish Island and White Post Lane Conservation Area, would result in considerable heritage benefits, met the local policy tests for outstanding architecture, and would not be unacceptable to adjacent buildings.

Tom Pike, Senior Planning Manager at Anderson and project team lead, commented: “We welcome the decision that planning permission should be granted.”

“The fact that this decision is one of a small number of appeals to have has been allowed within the LLDC area speaks volumes to the quality of the development proposals before us.

“For more than five years we have continually sought to work with local stakeholders, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and LLDC in bringing forward a scheme that meets local demand and sees the preservation of unique heritage assets in turn. We remained confident of the true public benefits of the scheme, and that has ultimately been justified through planning permission having been granted.”