Site allocation policy
Putney Bridge
The area surrounding Putney Bridge Station has the potential to accommodate significant redevelopment given its excellent access to public transport and local amenities. Development proposals for the area should:
a) be residentially led to provide for new high quality accessible and sustainable homes including affordable homes;
b) provide new commercial uses of a size and scale that would support the new and local population and a complementary to existing nearby centres;
c) make use of railway arches to provide new business premises with well-designed ground floor frontages to create a strong street presence and improved public realm;
d) Provide safe and well managed servicing and delivery access within the site and explore the provision of shared servicing for commercial uses in the railway arches.
e) avoid harmful impacts to nearby sensitive uses and heritage assets;
f) ensure that building heights and massing are appropriate for the area and contributes positively to the surrounding townscape;
g) create a new high quality public realm around Putney Bridge Underground Station, which is green, safe, and accessible to all, with provision for public and active transport to facilitate onward travel; and
h) demonstrate that there would be no adverse impact on the amenity of future occupiers from noise, vibrations or light associated with the continued effective operation of the railway.
Map - Putney Bridge
Site description
3.134 The site allocation consists of the land located immediately to the west of Putney Bridge station to Fulham High Street, including Swanbank Court to the south. New Kings Road forms the northern boundary of the site.
3.135 The site is close to a number of sensitive uses including the Grade I listed Fulham Bishop's Palace and registered park and garden. The site consists of a range of uses, however, is predominantly commercial in character with a range of offices, local cafes and restaurants at ground-level. The allocation forms a major travel interchange with a large number of buses serving the area supporting transport links to and from Putney Bridge station.
Site allocation
3.136 Development proposals for the area should be residentially led to provide for much needed housing in the area. Other uses such as small scale retail, restaurants and cafes should be provided as part of mixed use development, primarily to meet local need, particularly around a new transport interchange and public square outside Putney Bridge station to provide a vibrant and high quality environment. Additional leisure uses may also be acceptable where these do not impact on nearby sensitive uses. Any additional floorspace in the area should primarily cater for local needs in order to sustain the local centres and avoid unnecessary competition. The council will expect developers to demonstrate how the development approach will optimise the site for development, accessibility and recreational benefit, along with how it will benefit neighbouring developments and local residents.
3.137 New development in this location should be of the highest quality and should be optimised to provide new homes and employment space. The council will encourage new development which contributes positively to the surrounding townscape and is of an appropriate height and massing. The potential for taller building elements to reflect the surroundings should be explored as part of a design led approach. Development proposals will need to take account of protected views to and from the riverside and nearby heritage assets.
3.138 The impact of new development on nearby sensitive heritage sites will have to be carefully considered. Fulham Bishop's Palace is a Grade I listed building with an associated registered park and garden and development will need to preserve and enhance the setting of these heritage assets. Other notable heritage assets include the Grade II* listed Parish Church of All Saints and Grade II listed Fulham House.
3.139 The area is covered by an Archaeological Priority Area designation (Fulham Village APA). All applications for the area should include a desk based archaeological assessment to assess the potential for below ground remains. A watching brief or pre-development excavation may be required as part of any planning permission to protect below ground remains.
The design of the development should enable the railway arches to be opened up and refurbished for commercial, cultural and/or community uses. Development should provide physical and visual links to the path adjacent to the railway arches and optimise the future potential for commercial, cultural and/or community activities.
3.140 The council will work with TfL and other stakeholders to facilitate the refurbishment of the railway arches along the footpath to New King's Road and the creation of a new public transport interchange and step free access to the platforms at Putney Bridge station.
3.141 The area currently suffers from poorer quality public realm, which limits its suitability as a public transport interchange. The council has aspirations to create a new high quality public realm including a new public square outside Putney Bridge station that will facilitate an improved public transport interchange for onward travel. This new public square should be a central design feature and a community focal point that provides a high quality station approach to Putney Bridge station. Applications for the comprehensive redevelopment of the area should be accompanied by a site-wide public realm strategy.
3.142 Addressing the cumulative transport impacts will be necessary to manage increased traffic, ensure road safety, and promote sustainable travel. Development proposals will require safe pedestrian and vehicular access, and high-quality cycle and pedestrian routes throughout the site that increase local permeability to reduce car dependency and encourage healthier, more sustainable modes of transport. Reflecting the significant scale of growth as part of this site allocation it will be necessary to ensure that servicing arrangements are properly integrated and do not cause conflict with other vehicles using the site. In particular servicing arrangements should not interfere with the efficient operation of public transport using the site.