Twin Towers At Clapham Junction TO Dominate Wandsworth Skyline

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two 127-metre high towers to be centrepiece of development unveiled today

The first image of a £400million scheme that will transform Clapham Junction, the world's busiest railway station was unveiled today. The centrepiece are twin skyscrapers - which will dominate the skyline  dwarfing every building for miles around.

In addittion to the two 127-metre high towers containing 500 homes, there will be a large pedestrianised shopping centre.  Clapham Junction station itself, which has been criticesed for being shabby and depressing will be redeveloped with emphasis on accessability not only into and out of the station but between platforms as well with the introduction of nine new lifts and better access to all 17 train platforms from the footbridge.

The plans submitted by Land Securities are now going out to consultation and the developers aim to submit a planning application to Wandsworth in spring. The developers have been working closely with Network Rail. Glenn Burton, a spokesman for the developers, said: "Our proposals will transform Clapham Junction town centre." Network Rail route director David Pape said: "These proposals fit with our long-term strategy to improve Clapham Junction station for everyone."

It is thought that the plans are likely to meet similar objections to those that greeted a scheme submitted last year  for two residential towers on the site of the Young's Ram Brewery, also in Wandsworth. Developer Minerva, which bought the brewery site for £69million last August, want to build two residential towers of 39 and 29 storeys as well as shops, restaurants and riverside cafés but critics, including the Wandsworth Society, objected to the location and the scale of the buildings.

April 11, 2008