Local Support For Seven Storey Office Block On Gunnersbury Avenue

The plan will go before Hounslow Council Planning Committee

Hounslow Council's planning committee will be considering plans to build a seven storey office block near to Power Road Studios at 250 Gunnersbury Avenue on Thursday ( Dec 10). The scheme has the support of the West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society.

An application was submitted by Abrigo Estates for demolition of the existing office building at 250 Gunnersbury Avenue which is situated on the corner with Power Road. If approved it would be redeveloped to provide a new seven storey office building.

The application also calls for basement car parking and provision of refuse and cycle stores, plant and roof level PV panels.

A statement by the WCGS said that it was supporting the proposal on the following grounds that the scheme ;

• is of an appropriate scale for the site in question
• for which the design relates well to its context and surroundings
• uses high quality materials reflecting the local vernacular
• has been amended to reflect comment received

At the Planning Committee meeting, a spokesperson is expected to contrast this scheme with the Land at Lionel Road South, Brentford, which it opposes and says to which " none of the above attributes apply."

For 250 Gunnersbury Avenue (00535/250/P12) WCGS supports the proposed development.

"We consider that the proposed scale is appropriate for this particular site within the Power Road industrial estate. The Society recognises that this estate is an important area both in terms of function (Power Road Industrial Estate is included in the Council’s recent moves to protect office space) and form. We believe that the design relates well to its context and surroundings and are pleased to see that our request for changes to the south elevation has been met. We endorse the proposed use of brick, stone and tiling and other high quality materials; the bands of green tiling are an attractive feature.

"It is appreciated that care has been taken to reflect the architectural style and features of the Art Deco commercial buildings on Power Road, especially Power Road Studios. The original front elevation of this latter building was retained when the studios underwent a major conversion by De Metz architects in 1999/2000."

The building next door is occupied by Hinduja Global Solutions and it is believed they also held the tenancy of the site to be developed.

Five years ago, Abrigo Estates submitted plans for a commercial redevelopment at the same site.

In 2010 an application requested that the existing building at 250 Gunnersbury Avenue (the North Circular) be demolished and replaced by a six storey office building with ground and basement levels set aside for a car showroom.

The plans failed to materialise.

December 9, 2015