Tower next to Kingston riverside could be built

Developers London Square and Fenwick have revealed plans for the tower along with a 13-storey building to be built in Kingston John Lewis’ deserted car park.

But the development, called Thames Side Wharf, has faced backlash from furious residents on social media.

Kerry Fitzgerald on Facebook said the tower: “Looks so ugly and we don’t need another block of flats that no one can afford or a closed down bunch of shops.”

She added: “I wish this area could be just left open, why overbuild along the river, so short sighted.”

The Kingston Society has also slammed the build as an “inappropriately scaled building for this key riverside location”.

But the Thames Side Wharf website said: “Redevelopment would deliver a large number of benefits, given its status as an underused site in a prominent location within Kingston town centre.”

The building would include 35 per cent affordable housing, improve pedestrian and cyclist routes and provide new flexible commercial space on the ground floor – appealing to local businesses.

The Kingston Town Centre Area Action Plan identified the site for redevelopment and planning permission was granted in 2014 for two buildings on the site but this did not go ahead.

The first public consultation was in July and the second is hoped to be in September, with a planning application submission to Kingston Council by late 2021.

A spokesperson for London Square said: “We are excited to be working with Fenwick to transform this derelict site and deliver new high quality homes and employment opportunities in this fantastic riverside location in Kingston-upon-Thames.

“We are grateful to the local community for taking part in our first public consultation about the future of this important site.

“We will carefully consider the feedback we receive as our proposals develop.”