One of the world’s richest men plans to build a six-storey car park and housing complex for a fleet of supercars and limousines in Battersea, it is understood.

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The site: One resident said the road had become the personal fiefdom of the drivers 

A source told the Wandsworth Guardian the multi-billionaire Sultan of Brunei, or Hassanal Bolkiah, was behind plans to build accommodation for 114 cars and apartments for his chauffeurs and staff.

However, another suspect for the secretive plans, approved by the council’s planning committee by eight votes to two, on Wednesday, March 18, is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, who owns the named applicant, Smech Management Co, based in Belgravia, London. 

The wealthy sheikh also owns KJ Architects Ltd, which is listed in the plans.

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Rumoured: The sheikh owns racehorses and the Godolphin stable 

Mystery has for years surrounded the site, not far from London Heliport, with neighbours reporting limousines coming and going, chauffeured vehicles, nightly bin collections and security guards around the site, which runs between Chatfield Road and Mendip Road.

It is rumoured the owner, one of the richest men in the world, has had the site for a number of years, storing cars and a food preparation business which makes meals for consumption “elsewhere”.

We called Philip Wright, who works for Smech and is mentioned in planning documents.

He said: “I can’t give any more information on the scheme other than what’s already in the planning application.”

A spokesman for PR company Bell Pottinger, representing the sultan, said: “I have spoken to informed people who would know whether his majesty the Sultan of Brunei had bought this property and they have confirmed to me that he has not – and, therefore, I can only imagine that whoever suggested this is the case, is misinformed.”

Tony Belton, a Labour Latchmere councillor, said: “This is absurd that we should agree to a six-storey building just so an extremely rich man can indulge his fantasies when we need houses for people and families.”

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The back of the complex, on Chatfield Road 

Will Martindale, Labour parliamentary candidate for Battersea, said: “When the current housing crisis in Battersea and across Wandsworth is being felt no matter if you are in social housing, private renting, or own your own home; the green light given by the Conservative Wandsworth Council to a six-storey car park for the man's private car collection is simply absurd.

“We should be encouraging and even taking a lead to build new affordable homes for people within our communities – not creating ghost towns left empty by overseas investors.”

The plans will see the existing building demolished and a six-storey property, with two floors in the basement, built in its place.

According to documents, the applicant agreed to enter a local employment agreement to ensure provision for Wandsworth people. 

A spokesman for the council said: “The owner of this commercial site requested planning consent to modernise and upgrade the facilities and allow for the two businesses based there to grow and expand.

"As a condition of the planning permission the council has required the owner to enter into a local employment agreement that means any new jobs will be made available to local unemployed residents.”

Historic plans reveal in 1982 planning permission was granted for the maintenance, servicing and cleaning of a fleet of 50 cars. 

The application by similarly-named Smetch Properties Ltd said the company was also responsible for 12 properties in Greater London and six outside the capital. 


A number of concerns have been raised by residents including the nightly bin collections, people hanging around the entrance, the proposed car park overlooking their properties, environmental issues and congestion.

Philip Buckoke, 63, managing director of AC Buckoke & Sons woodwork factory next door, which has been on-site for 100 years, said: “I don’t see how we can work here with the ground right next door to us being excavated to a depth of two floors.”

One person commenting online said: “The entity that operates from the current facility has a team of people who marshal and direct the constant movement of vehicles at their gate with a complete air of ‘ownership’ of Mendip Road and exerting traffic directing priority for their vehicles.”

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Residents say the complex stores a "significant number of limousines" 

While another said: “Mendip Road has become the personal fiefdom of the drivers who work from the current car storage facility.”


The proposed new building “would provide a 24-hour vehicle storage facility supplying drivers and vehicles for various visits and occasions with a separate food preparation and distribution business”. 

The site already has a private waste collection service. 

According to the plans two basement floors will store vehicles, four storeys above ground will also have vehicles, offices, rest rooms, a changing area and a kitchen.

The fifth and sixth floors will have three three-bedroom flats and a roof patio for the drivers. The flats will only be accessed by a lift and staircase within the site.

The company currently has 24 cars on a neighbouring site which will be moved to the new build, “consolidating the business”.

The mysterious site will increase from 42 to 55 employees and the food business will involve five incoming deliveries between 5.30am and 9pm, except on Sundays. 

A transport document estimated a maximum of 120, 65 and 25 vehicles per day would leave the site during the “peak season from June to August” and at other times would not arise.

The planning report also refers to security issues involved with “expensive vehicles” entering the site.