The company behind the £600 million scheme to create a new 'village' on the banks of the Thames on the site of the former Stag Brewery is promising to spend millions improving the roads and transport.

Local residents are fighting the scheme – and the inclusion of a new Secondary School – on the basis that the extra traffic will bring gridlock to the area.

However, developers Reselton Properties, insist they can counter these dangers with a £45m contribution to improve the roads, walking and cycling infrastructure, plus investing £3m in bus services.

Artistic impression of what the completed scheme could look like (Credit Reselton Properties)

The development, which will incorporate 1,050 homes, shops, restaurants, pubs, public squares and a cinema, as well as the school, on the prime site alongside the Thames has been at the centre of controversy dating back to 2020.

There has been a tit for tat planning battle involving residents, Richmond Borough Council and the Mayor of London with an ongoing dispute over its scale and the number of affordable homes.

Some residents are also angry at the loss of a community sports field which would be built on to create the Secondary school. Some residents argue the school is not needed due to falling birth rates, however this has been rejected by the Council.

Richmond's Full Council is due to discuss elements of the scheme tonight – Tuesday – after a petition from residents calling for a full independent assessment of the impact of the scheme, along with a series of other major developments, on the area's roads gained more than 1,000 signatures.

This petition is being supported by the Green Party on Richmond borough council who are the official opposition to the ruling Lib-Dems. Details of residents' concerns can be found here - https://richmond.nub.news/news/local-news/unprecedented-plans-for-3000-homes-spark-gridlock-fears-and-call-for-independent-investigation-189024

A special meeting of Richmond's Planning Committee is due to discuss the multi-million pound proposal at a meeting next week – July 19.

Hundreds of documents have been submitted by developers supporting what is the biggest construction project in the borough in modern times.

Initially, Reselton hoped to begin demolition in March this year with construction running for six years and the scheme being completed in 2029, however conflicts around planning are likely to push this back to the early 2030s.

Artistic impression of what the completed scheme could look like (Credit Reselton Properties)

A spokesman for the scheme told Nub News: "The Stag Brewery site is 22 acres. The tallest building in the scheme stands at nine floors and the rest are at five, six, and seven in line with the planning brief for the site.

"In total, the scheme will bring 1050 new homes to Mortlake - following extensive engagement with the Mayor and the local Council.

"Also central to the scheme is a brand new 1200-place secondary school that also comes with an all-weather, floodlit, football pitch and two multi use gym exercise areas available to the local community outside of school hours.

"This is alongside up to 10 acres of public open space within the scheme, which will be beautifully landscaped with play areas for children as well as two specifically dedicated public squares which have pubs, restaurants, and other utility shops to serve residents included within the scheme."

In answer to concerns about traffic, the spokesman said: "We appreciate that Mortlake and Richmond have a busy road network.

"Our proposals include over £3m of funding specifically towards new bus services, in addition, road junction improvements to benefit traffic movements and safe crossings and access for pedestrians and cyclists (tested by Transport for London and Richmond Council officers), and provision for car parking zoning to allow residents to continue to use on-street parking."

Reselton has embarked on a major social media and leafletting campaign in a bid to win over residents by highlighting the claimed benefits of the scheme, including the cinema.

Artistic impression of what the completed scheme could look like (Credit Reselton Properties)

A spokesman told Nub News:"Mortlake is an attractive and friendly community nestled along the Thames and proud to be associated with the Oxford Cambridge Boat race every year.

"However, this golden opportunity to showcase the village is tarnished by the redundant Stag Brewery which acts as physical barrier between Mortlake and the river.

"In recent weeks we have reached out to the wider community to raise better awareness of the regeneration project. We have started to receive very positive feedback, particularly from those residents and families who are too busy to attend one-off exhibitions.

" In particular, we have witnessed positive feedback about the wide array of benefits to Mortlake, including the new 1200 pupil secondary school, affordable homes, local cinema, retail, hotel and offices, football pitch, community park and open green spaces that will benefit the community.

"Our plans also include provision to invest over £45m in improving local infrastructure in Richmond, through highways works, contributions to bus services, cycle parking spaces and new pedestrian routes.

"Our plans are supported by detailed transport, environmental and social assessment reports which have been robustly tested and supported by TfL and Richmond's own traffic engineers and environmental officers."