Green light for Stag Brewery
After nearly a decade of vacancy and planning debates, plans to redevelop the former Stag Brewery site in Mortlake have been approved. The scheme includes 1,075 new homes, 65 of which will be affordable, as well as a new secondary school with an accompanying sixth form. The development will also feature pedestrian and cycle routes, green spaces and improved access to the River Thames. The proposals have sparked debate locally, with critics questioning whether the plans will truly serve the community’s needs. Work on this site is unlikely to be completed before around 2033.
The Stag Brewery, originally Mortlake Brewery, began brewing by the Thames around 1487. In the 19th century it was acquired by Watney’s and later named the Stag Brewery. More recently, AB InBev brewed Budweiser there until the site closed in December 2015 and was sold to Singapore’s Reselton Properties for £158 million.
Following the sale, Reselton proposed redevelopment plans multiple times. The first outline in 2020 included around 850–1,250 homes, a school, cinema, hotel, care village, and riverside amenities. The initial scheme saw affordable homes rise from 17–30%, but was rejected by Mayor Sadiq Khan in 2021 over concerns about insufficient affordability, density, scale, and pollution.After revisions—cutting height, increasing public space, reducing parking, and introducing fire-safe staircases per Grenfell regulations—the scheme was approved by Richmond Council in early 2024, featuring roughly 1,075 homes (65 affordable), a 1,200‑place secondary school, commercial space, and public realm enhancements.
In May 2025, the Planning Inspectorate granted final approval on appeal. The approved plan delivers 1,075 homes (65 affordable), over 10,000 m² of commercial use, improved riverside access, cycle/pedestrian routes, and crucial infrastructure investment—despite local concerns around low affordability, traffic, and building height.
Mortlake Brewery Community Group
Richmond Council: Stag Brewery
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