The following is a letter from a local boat owner to nearby residents asking you to join a campaign to object to a planning application.

Concerned River Users,

This is a campaign to register objection to a development on the river that will change the riverside environment for the worse.  The proposal with the Hounslow Borough Council planning is for a “Lawful Development Certificate for an Existing use”.  The application is for a residential house boat mooring (sui generis) meaning similar to the current occupier of the mooring, Herons. However the proposed House on Water (HoW) is more than five times the size of Herons by volume, and so different that it could not be considered sui generis. In fact on some tides it will not float at all.

HoW air draft of 5.6 m (Herons 3.46 m) and beam of 7.6 m (Herons 4.32 m) – a clear two metres above the roof of Herons being further exacerbated by the proposal to place the HoW on an horizontal campshed grid which will extend the proposed HoW some 12.2 m out from the river bank into the river.  Moreover, this campshed grid is itself standing some 0.7 m above the height of the river bed.  A House on Water with these towering proportions blocks the magnificent views up and down the river for all.

Above all, the proposed placing of the HoW is to the significant detriment and enjoyment of all other moorings’ users, flats overlooking the river, walkers on the Thames Path, not only to due to its huge size, but that it is completely inappropriate within the context of the moorings at The Hollows.

To get an idea of the visual impact of this proposed HoW have a look at the scaled perspectives attached showing how the outline changes the outlook on the river.

Here is a link to the shared dropbox folder:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/prrv3u03eqcteta/AAAJo00gp-TmXBWLxbHLHFFAa?dl=0

It matters that all who are concerned should add their comments.

To register an objection write to write to Ms Natalie Lynch quoting case no P/2015/2961 reference 00617/D/PRE1 at

London Borough of Hounslow
Planning Department
The Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow TW3 4DN

And/Or Email to planningcomments@hounslow.gov.uk

And/Or add your comments and view the application documents on the planning website:

http://planning.hounslow.gov.uk/Planning_CaseNo.aspx?strCASENO=P/2015/2961

With Kind regards

Mark Scorer
MV Seacrest, The Hollows
Brentford TW8 0DZ
020 8569 9276
07973 626 036

P.S. the design guidelines for permanently moored boats at Corney Reach as drawn up by the Hounslow Director of Planning and Transport are mandatory and require that all boats on those moorings are boats and not HoWs, and that the maximum air draft permitted is 4 metres (13.1 feet).  They also state that it is important that boats do not overly obscure the view of the river from the development (the pontoon) or from the riverside walkway.

150617a HoW Enlarged Side Elev Markup

150617 HoW GA elev Marked up

The London Borough of Hounslow is proposing to regenerate the waterside area of Watermans Gardens.

The proposals seek to re-provide 26 houseboat moorings of varying lengths up to 30m. Plans also include a small area for a café, car parking, storage, associated infrastructure for the riverside moorings and substantial landscaping improvements to the gardens.

The London Borough of Hounslow previously consulted the public on the initial proposals at two public exhibitions which took place on Tuesday 28th October 2014 and Saturday 1st November 2014.

A revised scheme is now being proposed on account of the views and comments received at the exhibitions.  Two further public exhibitions have therefore been organised in order to allow people to drop in, review the plans and provide comments on the revised scheme. These are being held at the Watermans Art Centre, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 0DS on:

• Saturday 13th June, 9am – 12.30pm
• Tuesday 16th June, 3pm – 7.30pm

It is anticipated that following these latest exhibitions, a Planning Application will be readied for the redevelopment with a likely planning submission later this year.

The exhibition will be an informal event, allowing you to attend at your leisure during the set opening times.  The council welcomes your feedback to ensure that the final designs for the proposed scheme support the needs of both the council and the surrounding community.

If you are unable to attend either of the consultation events outlined above and would like to comment on the project, please provide your feedback at watermans.marina@hounslow.gov.uk or write to us at Watermans Marina, FREEPOST Peter Brett Associates, SCE 4241 Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8BR.