Simon Milton launched the Nine Elms Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF) yesterday. Those that follow me on Twitter may well have been bored yesterday with my incessant tweeting using the #9elms hashtag.
The sell-out event at New London Architecture reflected the huge interest in the area. And the the OAPF reflected the size and potential of the area.
And it is an ambitious framework. Jeremy Castle from Treasure Holdings – developers of the Power Station – reflected that in just a few years the scale of development suggested by the Mayor has rocketed, for example five years ago they suggested 1,500 homes in the area, they are now suggesting 16,000 homes.
The OAPF has several key features for the area:
- Creation of 16,000 homes and 20,000 – 25,000 jobs
- A linear park connection Battersea Park to Lambeth Palace
- Completion of the riverside walk
- Green ‘fingers’ providing links for the existing housing to the river
- A Northern line extension from Kennington to Battersea Power Station
The OAPF (which is available from the Mayor’s website) is out for consultation until next year – obviously the council and developers will be responding and the framework might change, but it’s enormously exciting that even in the midst of an incredibly long recession there is such ambition for Nine Elms.
I’d love to know your thoughts.