THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXTRACT FROM BRENTFORDTW8.COM

West London’s tallest building features in Council’s ambitious scheme

Last week Hounslow Council invited a select number of guests to the launch of their redevelopment plans for the Golden Mile with the aim to bring in substantial inward investment to Hounslow. The plan is to re-launch, re-invigorate and completely revamp the Golden Mile (which is of course 2.6 miles long).

What are they actually proposing?

First – Building Use

Included within the plan are over 1500 homes, a new primary school (Floreat has permission although a site is not confirmed), the potential for a new secondary school (HiP has applied) and a huge mix of commercial, light industrial business space.

Plans for the Octopus building on Chiswick Roundabout are replaced with a 42 storey Gateway Tower (pictured left), comprising offices, hotel and residential flats.

This would be one of the tallest buildings in Europe and three times the height of any structure in the area. It would be the same height as two of the three largest towers in Canary Wharf and would be visible from most parts of Brentford and Chiswick. The visualisation provided by Hounslow Council seems to suggest that the development of the adjacent site currently occupied by B&Q would be on a similar scale.

The Octopus itself was controversial with the design attracting criticism as it was effectively a giant advertising hoarding but work has reportedly ceased on the site and there were press reports earlier in the year that the royal families of both Qatar and Dubai were interested in acquiring the site.

We asked Hounslow Council for further comment specifically on these plans but have yet to receive a reply.

Second – improvements to public transport

A shuttle train between Sky and Southall on an existing single track that connects to Crossrail.

A new connection between Hounslow and Willesden Junction via Old Oak Common that may include a new station at Lionel Road Stadium.

A pedestrian boardwalk from the back of Sky across the canal to Boston Manor tube station.

Third – 4 key areas for redevelopment

“Blue Sky”: Sky, Gillette, and area to the south,

“Brentford Lock North”: area north of Brentford Lock West, between railway line and A4

“M4 Gateway”: opportunity for striking iconic buildings along the M4

“Kew Gate”: area including Lionel Road stadium and Chiswick roundabout. Not Kew

What’s good about it?

Over 28,000 jobs may be created, although some will be existing.

The proposed public transport links would make it easier for commuters to get to and from the Golden Mile

Further landmark buildings like the GSK HQ would make the Golden Mile a prestigious address, as the Art Deco buildings once did.

There is much land area on or around the A4 which is under-utilised or standing empty. This is a massive (and one off) opportunity to use the space.

There is space earmarked for a new Brompton factory, who may otherwise have to relocate far in order to expand.

What are the issues with it?

A 42 storey skyscraper.

Kew Gate. It’s in Brentford. If we’re trying to encourage investment in Hounslow, the borough, we shouldn’t be promoting Surrey. End of discussion. (Either that or we rename all of Brentford Kew North and have done with it)

It’s not clear whether buildings would be designed by the company for the company, as with GSK, or whether developers will just build tall buildings and hope someone will move in. We have enough empty buildings.

We still have only two east west roads through Brentford. One accident means one giant traffic jam. Delays at peak time are horrendous. How will this take cars off the road?

We need better public transport along the A4. The H91 works, but not often enough.

Residential accommodation fronting the A4 shouldn’t happen. All residential accommodation should be protected from the noise and pollution of the A4. Plenty of people do live on the A4, but that doesn’t make it pleasant.

The plans call for some existing and occupied buildings to be torn down and redeveloped. This may well result in better land use and occupation but what happens to the businesses that are currently in situ?

Will there be affordable commercial space for the small businesses who don’t need prestige locations but just need a place to call their own?

If, and it’s a big if, we accept the need for dense occupation in outer London, can we at least make sure it’s not ugly. Variety in architecture is as essential as quality.

There is an assumption of a trickle down effect from the Golden Mile to Brentford High Street. Is this true?

Overall then, it’s a visionary plan that could bring prosperity and growth to the A4, but is bound to be hugely controversial and the details must be right.

Kath Richardson
October 17, 2014

ARTICLE COPIED FROM www.brentfordtw8.com

The 15 year blueprint for future development across the borough has moved a step closer.
The draft Local Plan highlights the key areas for regeneration and investment across the borough between 2015 and 2030.
The plans, which have been shaped by a stakeholder consultation that took place last summer, include potential sites for 12,330 new homes and the community infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of Hounslow’s expanded population.
Development will be directed to areas that have capacity for change, including the borough’s town centres and around the Great West Road. The many landscape, natural and built heritage assets and distinctive residential characters found across the borough will be protected and enhanced.
The proposals for Brentford look as follows (with numbers relating to points below):

1. Encouraging redevelopment of the allocated sites including: BSkyB, Gillette, Reynard Mills and Brentford Waterside.
2. Regenerating Brentford town centre as a vibrant District Centre that celebrates the town’s heritage and waterside location, through:
– Maximising the centre’s vitality and viability by promoting an increase in town centre floorspace appropriate in scale for a District Centre.
– Reconnecting the High Street with the centre’s wealth of historical assets which have been undervalued and neglected for many years and a canal side environment which is unique in character, enjoyable and diverse in the variety of uses it provides.
– Supporting the new retail with a mix of employment, leisure, entertainment and cultural uses which promote greater use of the canal side, primarily on the Brentford Waterside site to the south of Brentford High Street.
– Securing the future of the Waterman’s Arts Centre including promoting its potential relocation to Brentford town centre.
– Ensuring provision of short-term shopper car parking within the town centre.
– Promoting improvements to the High Street to improve the environment for
pedestrians and to ease north-south movement.
– Identifying a site for the creation of a new market square in front of the old
Magistrates Court on Brentford High Street.
3. Promoting the Golden Mile as a strategic outer London development centre for digital and media by supporting the expansion of existing employers, seeking to deliver a fundamental change in the accessibility of the area by public transport, improving the visual environment including a reduction in advertisement clutter and retaining the commercial character of the roadside, as well as improving the connections to Brentford town centre.
4. Promoting the provision of major public transport improvements for the Great West Road and Brentford as a whole, including new rail links to the Crossrail line at Southall and from Hounslow to Brent Cross via the proposed west London transport interchange at Old Oak Common (links to Crossrail and High Speed 2).
5. Connecting the Golden Mile with development in the areas north and west of Chiswick roundabout and with Chiswick Business Park.
6. Supporting the relocation of Brentford Football Club to a site on Lionel Road South.
7. Supporting Brentford’s distinctive role for the provision of waterside industries and support facilities, and reconnecting the area with its unique waterside location.
8. Securing the restoration and regeneration of Gunnersbury Park and Mansions, and Boston Manor House and Grounds.
9. Targeting the social, economic and environmental improvements to the Haverfield, Brentford Towers and Syon estates as areas with high levels of deprivation (identified Areas of Regeneration).
10. Making provision for an additional 5 forms of primary school level. [What about secondary schools?] Cllr Steve Curran, cabinet member for planning, regeneration and housing at the council, said:
“This plan is the blueprint for any future developments and setting out what we expect to see built in an area.
“It also sets out locations for potential new homes for families, where facilities such as schools should be built and where shops and services should be provided.
“But the local plan isn’t just about building, it’s about preserving areas that we want to keep as they are, and protecting and improving the local environment.
“With such a wide scope, stretching over so many years, we’ve worked hard to get input from as many people and interested groups as possible, and their views have been taken on board in the draft plans we have produced.”
The plans outline how town centres will become hubs of cultural, leisure, community, and retail activity that supports the growing population. Town centres will also be promoted as locations for economic growth, as places to do business.
The quality of life and health of residents will be improved by providing supporting infrastructure and high quality design that respects and improves local character.
The plans were approved by the Council’s cabinet last week, and will now go to Borough Council for approval. If approved, there will then be a full public consultation, before they are submitted to the Secretary of State.