"Mwmbwls" wrote

Clapham Junction will have its own 39-storey twin towers, if an
ambitious project gets the go-ahead.
As well as the skyscapers developers are also planning a two-floor
shopping plaza and a face-lift for Clapham Junction Station.
The group behind the proposals have labelled the project "A new heart
for Battersea", but at 127 metres the towers' height has raised
concerns.
A spokesman for developers Metro Shopping Fund - a joint venture
between Delancey and Land Securities - said: "This is a one-off
opportunity to aid the regeneration of Clapham Junction town centre
and facilitate significant improvements to the railway station.
"Being located at a major transport interchange significantly reduces
the need for car travel and substantial cycle parking facilities will
be provided . . . and at least 20 per cent of the energy used will
come from renewable sources."
He added the plans were backed by Network Rail.
Chairman of the Battersea Society, Harvey Heath, said: "It is too
early for us to take a position. We have some issues to raise and
height is possibly the biggest, as well as the lack of bus station. We
believe there should be a bus interchange facility also."
If approved a two-level pedestrian street will have shops, open air
cafes and bars - and provide access to 37 residential floors providing
500 flats.
The station will have two new entrances at Grant Road and St John's
Hill - the latter being set in the listed Brighton Building.
Escalators will be installed between a new ticket hall and
improvements would also be made to the subway.
Lifts will also be installed to provide access to all 17 platforms
from the footbridge.
The proposals will be exhibited to the public from January 23 to the
26 at the Shop Stop centre at Clapham Junction before an application
is submitted around April.
Plans for a 37 and 29 storey block on the site of the Ram Brewery in
Wandsworth Town are also in progress.
Planners Minerva will submit an application to Wandsworth Council
around the same time the Clapham Junction plans are submitted.
Details of the development can be viewed at theheartofbattersea.co.uk
Exhibition dates and times 2pm-8pm - Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24
January 12pm-6pm - Friday 25 January 10am-2pm - Saturday 26 January.

I hope the plans will allow properly for future train services. For example,
will Crossrail 2 serve Clapham Junction, and if so, which platforms? Will
there be 3 or 4 tracks for the SWML fast trains, and will platform 7 be made
more suitable for them, peraps with 8 made reversible? Will platform lengths
be increased, e.g. to 10 car on the SWML Slow Lines, the Windsor Lines, and
the Brighton Slow Lines, and longer than 12 (16, with provision to use the
International platforms at Waterloo?) for platforms 7, 8 and 9? Will the
Watford to Clapham Junction service continue to run beyond Clapham Junction
(in which case platforms 16 and 17 need to be improved, particularly
straightened) or not (in which case provision needs to be made to terminate
them in 16).

Peter