Controversial 'Top Floor' Plan For Edensor Gardens Cancelled
Residents had campaigned against plan to build extra storey on top of flats
Residents in Edensor Gardens say they are delighted and relieved that Hounslow Council has dropped its plans to build an extra storey onto the three-floor blocks, in order to create a fourth floor which would be released for extra housing.
The residents had set up a petition, 'Say No To The Top Floor,' to highlight their concerns that building on the site of a former sewage works would affect the foundations. They said residents in the complex already suffered from problems with drainage.
In September 2019,the Council wrote to residents informing them of the proposal to create an extra 28 homes as part of their 5,000 pledge to create thousands of homes across the borough. A budget of £5m had been allocated for the project which was to take an estimated 12 months.
Hounslow Council contractors spent six weeks testing the foundations, ground and soil of the Edensor Gardens site and contractors RSK presented their reports on the foundations to the Council in early January. Soil samples also went off for analysis.
It has now emerged that the Council have discovered they would need to do extensive fortification in order to make the buildings viable and to support the extra floor. Therefore the cost involved means that the flats would not be cost-effective.
In a letter to residents, leader of the Council, Steve Curran said: "The surveys have revealed that should we press on with the proposals we would need to:
• consider additional strengthening of the building, to bolster the capability of the building to support the extra floors; and
• increase the overall costs of the proposed scheme and reassess its affordability in relation to the allocated budget for the project
"Taking the above and other factors into account, we have concluded that due to the additional structural works and costs that the scheme would no longer be feasible, and would offer little or no value for money, whilst creating considerable disruption for residents across the estate. We have, therefore, taken the decision not to proceed with the rooftop proposals at Edensor Gardens."
A spokesperson for residents said they were very pleased and thanked everyone on the Estate for getting involved and 'taking pride in their community and the integrity of their homes.' They also thanked Cllr John Todd who had been a huge supporter over the years helping them with various problems, including repairs and general upkeep.
"Although we are completely sympathetic and supportive of the need for more social housing, the sites picked need to actually be suitable," said a spokesperson.
March 4, 2020
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March 5, 2020
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