By Marcelle Burton, via email
I read with dismay in the Wimbledon Guardian that Asif Aziz, owner of the Brown and Root site tower, has seemingly succeeded in getting Merton Council to waive much of the Section 106 planning conditions, which requires developers to put something back into the areas when they build.
His position being that unless Section 106 is watered-down for him, he will leave the tower as it is. For all eternity presumably.
Apart from the precedent being set for other potential developers in the area – why should they comply with the terms and conditions of Section 106 if Aziz has not?
It is disturbing to realise that a powerful and rich entity can be so indifferent to and contemptuous of this country’s planning provisions put there for a very good reason - making an area better, communitywise.
And there still are no signs of regeneration anyway.
Croydon’s council seem to be more proactive where ugly and outmoded sites drag on unimproved. I see that Croydon might consider compulsory purchase if owners of the Whitgift centre cannot agree on redevelopment.
A very similar site by the sounds of it, to that of the Brown & Root tower. However, when compulsory purchase has been proposed to Merton Council in the past to solve the problem of this eyesore, a sum of £20 million has been quoted.
If we are in line for regeneration money via London’s mayor, why can it not be utilised now and given to the council to force the owner to compulsorily sell this site for what it is probably really worth – around £3million.
Otherwise it’s a chicken and egg situation. We can’t get the regeneration cash until the tower site is improved. And Aziz wont improve it, or pay towards regeneration via section 106, so no cash.
I cannot think of anywhere else in the entire country where such an enormous, decrepit and empty building has been allowed to be left so long, by the will of its owner. It is time to end this decades-long impasse.
It should be Merton Council dictating terms to the developer, not the other way around.
Make sure your voice is heard by sending your letter to: letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk
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