The Collective gets green light in Wandsworth

The Collective has been given the green light to develop 292 co-living rooms at its Trewint Street scheme in Earlsfield, SW18. Wandsworth planning committee voted to approve the redevelopment of the scrap metal yard at Garratt Mills, despite ward councillors’ concerns over height, the impact on the neighbours and the hostel-type living. The application was approved with the use class sui generis, specifying the units would be used for co-living. Other schemes under sui generis include Palmerston Road, approved by Harrow Council in 2018, and the Stratford High Street development which has been sat with the GLA for two years after the London Legacy Development Corporation approved it in June 2017. In recent months, The Collective has turned to hotels use class to push schemes through planning, for example at Canary Wharf and in Hackney. The Trewint Street scheme includes a pedestrian and cycling bridge and a café and amenities including a cinema room, library, workspace, gym and roof terraces. The Collective financed the project in partnership with London-based boutique financier Reditum Capital. The scheme was downsized following feedback from the community. The Collective opted to shave a storey from the height to minimise impact on surrounding views and added the public elements and further landscaping. To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette