New pier for London party boat set to be sunk

Plans to redevelop a pier close to London Bridge where a new party boat could be moored look set to be sunk, after the City of London Corporation reviewed close to 1,000 objections to the project. The corporation’s planning and transportation committee has been recommended to refuse permission for the redevelopment of Swan Lane Pier, EC4, at next week’s planning meeting. Thames Leisure’s plans for the site involve building a new pier at the site, which has been disused since 2012. The pier would be multi-use and open to all river traffic, the company said in its application last year – including the Ocean Diva, a boat hosting corporate parties, weddings and other commercial events. But Londoners have given the City Corporation a long list of objections to the scheme – 836 to be exact. “The objections have raised concerns regarding the adverse impact on residential amenity, noise and air pollution from the use of the pier from charter vessels, namely the Ocean Diva,” the corporation said in agenda documents published ahead of the planning meeting. “Further concerns relate to the emergency and national safety of vessels, antisocial behaviour, visual amenity and protected views, lack of transparency, highway and walkway congestion and that the proposal is contrary to policy.” The committee has been advised to reject the plans on the grounds that the development “would not provide for a multi-use pier and would result in a pier which has not been designed to accommodate and provide for a sustainable freight offering for a variety of users”. The Greater London Authority has already issued a stage 1 decision letter in which it says the application does not meet the London Plan due to various factors including a “lack of a detailed strategy on its intended operation and management.” To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@egi.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @estatesgazette