Uncle Sam's new embassy upsets local businesses

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Business chiefs today waded into a dispute over plans for the proposed new £500million US Embassy in south London.

Bosses at Royal Mail and the Covent Garden Market Authority have accused American diplomats of failing to reveal the true impact the "Iceberg" complex will have on the local area.

The two complain that the Americans are using "security" considerations as an excuse not to provide sufficient information on the Nine Elms Lane project and claim the embassy will seriously threaten their strategic operations.

The objections follow those already made by the Mayor's office, which found the proposals in breach of the London Plan.

The South London Mail Centre is located just south of Nine Elms Lane with permanent access via Ponton Road. It is a 24-hour operation "of strategic importance" to Royal Mail.

Having consulted experts, the Royal Mail has written to Wandsworth council saying that the Americans have not provided "sufficient information to allay its concerns".

The over-riding concern "is to safeguard the operational security and continuity" of the centre which is "absolutely critical to the delivery of mail services" for much of London.

"Any disruption to its unfettered operation would be unacceptable," Royal Mail said.

Its submission is very critical of the proposal's traffic assessment, which it said was overly optimistic, assumed that only five per cent of visitors would arrive by car and used "security" to avoid giving more details. Royal Mail also says the embassy may attract demonstrations which would disrupt local traffic and is demanding that the embassy provides a contingency access plan and cover its costs.

The outline application does not contain information about the embassy's intentions to compensate neighbours and Royal Mail is asking Wandsworth to ensure that this becomes a part of any decision.

The Covent Garden Market Authority requires deliveries of fresh and perishable produce at all hours. It said it "would be severely prejudiced" if access were denied due to security issues. "Discussions to date with the US Embassy and its advisers have not provided any reassurance on this issue", the CGMA told Wandsworth council.

It is also concerned that the Americans may, in future, seek to limit development on CGMA sites or seek to impose conditions on its operations.

English Heritage wants to limit the height of any embassy building to 70 metres, to avoid causing harm to views of the Palace of Westminster from Hungerford Bridge. The current proposal is up to 97 metres high.

An embassy spokesman said: "The US government continues to be committed to ongoing consultation. It is normal for a scheme of this significance to elicit comments and we continue to seek to find acceptable solutions."

[britwrit]

I'm an American (and thus pretty much brain-dead) but come on. The area we're talking about here is a dumpy wasteland and what isn't a blight, is an anonymous industrial park. The only redeeming feature is the nearby Battersea Home For Dogs. Do you hear them kicking up a fuss? Nope.

Seriously, how about we actually.... Oh, I don't know.... have a final design announced before we start raising concerns? And both the market and Nine Elms operate primarily during the evening, no? Are we going to see a stream of cars going in and out of the embassy at three in the morning?

Yes, the United States government can be extremely annoying, high-handed and flat-out evil. And the current embassy went WAY overboard with their security precautions in Grosvenor Square. I completely understand why the neighbours are driving them out. With all the concrete barriers, mesh fencing and gun-totting cops, the place looks like a dress rehearsal for World War III.

Still, let's be honest here. This is about everyone concerned dreaming about the next real estate revival... their fantasy that gentrification will spread out down from Chelsea Bridge and they'll sell out big for the next luxury apartment complex to be built. Let's put that on hold, please, and be realistic. Even if the US puts up a big old fort, with a shimmering force field around it to boot, that'll still be an improvement on what's there now.