Wandsworth Council has flourished its rubber stamp over plans for a new US Embassy at Nine Elms. The outline proposals would see a medium-rise building of 15 to 20 storeys set back within a five acre site. The new embassy would replace the modernist structure in Grosvenor Square, home to our American cousins for more than 40 years. In the broad picture, everyone's a winner. The Yanks get a purpose-built base with Thameside views and can borrow hedge trimmers from the neighbourly British secret services. The people of Mayfair are relieved of a major protest and terrorist target London transport gets a shot in the arm thanks to mandatory contributions towards either Crossrail or a new spur of the Northern Line. And the plans also include options for a new park, improvements to riverside paths and new cycling infrastructure. The devil will no doubt be in the detail, which will be revealed later this year after a competition among US firms to nail down a design for the embassy. The plans will then have to undergo a further round of approval by TfL and a less-than impressed Mayor. Image from JDinBawimer's Flickrstream under Creative Commons license.
