Despite local opposition, flats for car-park approved by Hounslow Planning Committee

Local residents have lost their campaign to prevent plans for a new development of flats at the Chiswick Village apartment complex.

The proposal to build a five storey block of 11 two-bedroom flats in a former car-park was approved by Hounslow Council's Planning Committee this week.

Martin Weaver of Chiswick Village Residents (owners of the freehold of the 15 residential blocks,) described the proposed development as "speculation and profiteering" and said that building fifteen penthouses and eleven flats would not help solve the housing problem in West London.

He said it was " a sad day" when such a development was approved.

"We've been fighting development for seventeen years. Chiswick Village was a unique response to the need for housing between the war years and it has inspired several local authorities to use a similar design."

Council officials had recommended the development be approved, subject to safeguarding conditions and planning obligations. The site is an existing car park that is secured by condition of a planning permission as car parking for the Chiswick Village Estate to mitigate for the previous loss of parking.

Residents had raised several concerns, including design, parking, traffic, disruption and harm to living conditions. They also object to the proposed underground car park.

Councillors at the Planning Committee meeting voted six in favour, five against, with the chairman abstaining.

Planning permission , granted on appeal in 2015, gave consent for an additional unit to the roof of each block (15 in total) The current proposal sought demolition and re-build of the garages to the south of the site to provide 19 secure parking garages. This application was refused in August 2014 and overturned on appeal in August 2015.

A report by a traffic survey company, undertaken on behalf of the residents, claimed that a parking survey carried out by the developer was "flawed and has serious discrepancies."

It said that there was insufficient parking spaces on-street within 200m of the proposed development to accommodate parking demand and that any further demand from new development and/or displaced demand will acutely worsen on-street parking supply.You can read the full report .

The West Chiswick & Gunnersbury Society had also objected to the application.

However, council officials believed the development will contribute to meeting the need for additional homes, including affordable housing in the area. It said the design was acceptable and compatible with the surrounding townscape.

January 12, 2018