The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has welcomed the decision by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government not to grant planning permission for a development at the Ram Brewery site in Wandsworth.

HSE advised Wandsworth Council against granting planning permission for the development of commercial and residential buildings, particularly the two very tall towers due to their proximity to the Wandsworth Gasholder station. HSE advised that the development could put people at an increased risk should an accident occur at the Gasholder station.

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The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government called-in the application early in 2009 and HSE appeared at the planning inquiry which was held in November 2009, where it gave evidence about the major accident risks from the gasholder.

In his decision the Secretary of State has signalled support for HSE's advice, saying that the development would "harm public safety" and that he was not satisfied that "future occupants would be adequately protected from the safety risk".

HSE's Director of Hazardous Installations, Gordon MacDonald, said: "The proposed development site, which would have included 829 residential units, is very close to the Wandsworth Gasholder station. In the event of a major accident, it would have been difficult to evacuate people rapidly from the upper levels of the proposed very tall tower blocks.

"HSE has more than 30 years experience in giving advice to local planning authorities on planning applications for developments that are close to major hazard installations. We base our advice on the best available scientific evidence."

(CD)