A decision will be made on the plans for Wandsworth Roundabout on Thursday
Controversial plans to replace an “iconic” South London landmark above an underpass which featured in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange have been recommended for approval.
The big circular advertising structure at the centre of Wandsworth Roundabout has become a local landmark since its installation in 1995, but a decision on replacing it with a timber tree-inspired structure will be made by Wandsworth Council next week.
Residents criticised the plans across 153 objections on the council’s website, claiming the new structure would be an “eyesore” and waste money that would be better spent on other infrastructure upgrades. However, council officers recommended the scheme for approval as they said there were no planning concerns that required its refusal. The project is also privately funded so doesn’t involve public money.
In a new report, officers said: “The proposal would have a similar scale and visual impact to the existing structure it would replace and would continue to fulfil the role of providing a townscape focal point to the roundabout.”
Advertising specialists Wildstone Estates put forward the plans in a bid to increase revenue generation at the site, after acquiring the structure last year under a long lease with Transport for London (TfL). The firm designed the proposals with architects Tate + Co.
The new roughly 25-metre-tall structure would have four advertising boards, like the original, but they would be slightly bigger.
Responding to the plans on the council’s website, one objector wrote: “It’s extremely ugly and unneeded in the area. Another eyesore in Wandsworth for no good reason. What a waste of money.”
Another commented: “I strongly object to the new structure. The current one is iconic, it has been perfectly and recently improved with the dark paint. It is clean and simple. The new design is garish, will not age well design or materials wise, and also a complete waste of money.”
A third added: “In my view, this structure will be an unnecessary eyesore and represents money that could be much better spent on improvements that genuinely benefit local residents.”
An underpass beneath the roundabout was featured at the start of Kubrick’s 1971 film A Clockwork Orange.
Planning documents said: “The redesign of Wandsworth Roundabout is an opportunity to rethink a vital layer of London’s advertising infrastructure, and redefine how such structures can enrich their surroundings.”
They added: “The proposals present the opportunity to refresh the site with a high-quality creative design that reflects the iconic location and showcases new investment in the area.”
Officers ruled in their report the replacement structure would not be much more “visually dominant” than the original. They confirmed the scheme would be privately funded, and the council could not require the applicant to offer any upgrades to the surrounding public space.
The report added: “The replacement structure has generated publicity and strong views from local residents about its appearance, but there is not considered to be any substantive reason to object to the chosen design approach in terms of its assessment against material planning considerations as criticism in terms of its design are subjective.”
Wandsworth’s planning committee will make a decision on the proposals on September 17. Wildstone and Tate + Co have been contacted for comment.
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