Walbrook Sqare

Vauxhall could have at least five new residential towers of between 20 and more than 40 storeys, if plans are approved on a variety of developments. The Nine Elms area has become prime development land thanks to the recent announcement that the American Embassy will move there and also because of the masterplan to regenerate Battersea Power Station and its surroundings with residential units, shops, office space and even a new Tube link. The pressure is on to develop.

Proposals include Hampton House by Foster + Partners, Carey Jones’s Vauxhall Cross eco tower (the Vauxhall Sky Gardens), and Keith Williams Architects’ 24-storey residential tower just a block inland from the river at 81 Black Prince Road. Towers in the Vauxhall area have met with opposition from local residents, particularly the Octave Tower, designed by Make Architects, the practice run by Ken Shuttleworth. The project was refused planning permission last year, but the developer has appealed and results of that appeal are due in June. Another controversial scheme is Squire and Partners’ proposal for two towers of 42 and 31 storeys at Vauxhall Cross, which is due to go in for planning this summer. Steve Bee, director of planning and development for English Heritage, says that although EH is now comfortable with the plans for Battersea Power Station, the Vauxhall Cross towers are worry-ing. He says: ‘These buildings at Vauxhall Cross do give us cause for concern because they affect the backdrop to the Westminster World Heritage Site.’