Scheme
for Wandsworth Town Centre site approved
South Thames College has moved one step closer to getting new premises.
The college wants to move from its Putney site so that it can operate
from a single campus in the heart of Wandsworth.
The existing college buildings on Wandsworth High Street would be completely
refurbished. Most of the new development would be at the rear.
The extensions include a four-storey building on Malva Close with a theatre
and sports hall on the ground floor and classrooms above.
A new five-storey block in the centre of the site would include an entrance
area and café overlooking the Old Burial Ground. There would be
a new access from this area and a new route through the site the high
street.
The Council has informed us that the expanded campus would provide jobs
for 720 people compared to 458 currently and that the total number of
daytime and evening students at the Wandsworth site would go up from 6,881
to 11,653.
Planning applications chairman Ravi Govindia said: "By focusing its
operations on one site in the heart of Wandsworth, the college will have
a huge impact on the whole town centre area. The open space here now provides
a direct link with the main town centre area. The new entrance to the
college will open up a new route between the campus and the Southside
shopping centre."
The committee expressed some concern over a number of detailed design
issues including the appearance of the building frontages on St Ann's
Hill and Malva Close. These will be the subject of separate planning conditions
before work is allowed to proceed.
You can view the planning application on www.wandsworth.gov.uk/planning
by keying in reference 2003/4629, 4630 and 4633.
July 1, 2004
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