Lend Lease Submit Plans for Empire House Development

No compromise on height of buildings in Essex Place

An application for planning permission for the major development along Chiswick High Road and Essex Place has been submitted by Lend Lease.

Local residents groups are disappointed that the developer has made no compromise on the height of buildings on Essex Place which was the principle objection of many to the scheme. The block of flats adjacent to the Sainsbury's car park remain '7 to 8' storeys high as per the original design.

The Chiswick High Road Action group said when the plan was presented to them, "we strongly object to the height of the proposed new buildings, the lack of sympathetic architecture and the lack of non-retail amenity benefit for Chiswick in an area where housing targets are on schedule to be comfortably exceeded and the strain on local infrastructure is increasing."

They also criticised the lack of publicity for the consultation exercise and the way in which drawings of the plans used the tree line to mask that another tower block would be visible from Turnham Green.

Janet Kidner, Lend Lease’s Project Director, said, “We are grateful for the positive interactions we have received from the local community at our two public exhibitions. Our comprehensive proposal will incorporate high quality design and a sense of place by drawing on the area’s rich heritage and culture.”

The proposals will provide:

• 137 new residential units, including the provision of affordable housing

• Re-cladding for Empire House

• New shopfronts and retail units

• The creation of a new pedestrian link between Chiswick Park Station and Essex Place Square

The rear of Empire House from Essex Place

Essex Place

Chiswick High Road by Empire House

The reference number for the application is P/2014/3288. Comments can be made on the application by visiting the planning pages on Hounslow Council's web site.

August 22, 2014