Council turns down developer's application to demolish former restaurant

An application by developers for prior approval to knock down the building that used to house Pissarro's restaurant has been refused by Hounslow Council. The plan is to build a three-storey residential complex on the site.

The Council stated that the reason for refusal was insufficient information and detail on the proposed demolition works and because the site notice had not been signed.

Design for the proposed flats

The report and decision has been published on the Council's website under reference planning reference 01689/D/DEM1 although this was not accessible at the time of writing.

A notice from the owner of the freehold, Gort Investments, had been placed on the property, stating an intention to demolish the building in January 2016. One local commented that it was clearly intended to be put up at a time when many people would be unaware of developments, due to the Christmas holidays.

The proposed plans are for six two-bedroom apartments, two three-bed duplex family homes and a two-bedroom penthouse. Some residents in the area say that the freeholder promised to open up the freehold to restauranteurs.

This is the second attempt to turn the restaurant site into residential units - a previous application to develop the site into eight flats was turned down following local objections.

However, a local resident noticed on Friday that the following notice had been posted. It states that the applicant has applied to Hounslow Council "for a determination as to whether the prior approval of the authority will be required as to the method of demolition of the building."

The proposed development would be set across three storeys with private ground level and roof-gardens with green roofs. A total of ten car-park spaces have been included along with cycle storage.

Design for green roofs and private gardens

Corney Reach Way eastern view

It is expected that a planning application for redevelopment would be made in the spring, possibly March 2016, and if approval is granted, building would start in late 2016.

The restaurant closed two years ago and a previous application to redevelop the site into residential units was turned down in 2014. The plans for the Chiswick riverside site had been controversial and nearly 200 residents had opposed a bid to extend the existing site and build eight two-bedroom flats with parking spaces and bicycle storage.

Many people in the Corney Reach area want the Pissarro site considered as an Asset Of Community Value.

Pissarro, which was named in honour of the 'Father of French Impressionism', Camille Pissarro (who painted many local scenes in the 1890s), opened in the late 1990s when it was owned by local investors. The restaurant has had a chequered history, and at one stage suffered a serious fire. It closed down in January 2014 with management saying there was not enough business in that area to make it a commercial success.

December 24, 2015