Major Upgrade Planned for Chiswick's Only Stadium

Latymer Foundation wants to make changes to Hartington Road sports ground

Visualisation of the new stadium stand from the application

July 23, 2023

The Latymer Foundation has submitted plans (P/2023/1844) for major changes at The Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground on Hartington Road.

The Latymer Foundation was created in 1624 when Edward Latymer, a wealthy lawyer and man of property, bequeathed part of his estate on his death for the clothing and education of “eight poore boyes” from Hammersmith. The application is part of a bid for a significant expansion of school sports at the site which it has taken over the leasehold from the University of Westminster.

The Quintin Hogg Memorial Fund owns the freehold of the 32-acre Sports Ground. The application states that since 1990 to the present day the site has been underused and suffered from a lack of investment. The historic track, which was the finish line for the marathon at the first London Olympics, was dug up to form a car park and the pitch by the stadium allowed to fall into disrepair. The first modern marathon, became known as the “Poly marathon” after its initial running for the 1908 London Olympics and the distance from the gates of Windsor Castle to the stadium became the length of the marathon around the world.

As the University of Westminster, formerly the Polytechnic, decreased their use of the site for sport, Latymer became the primary user of the site during term time.

The Foundation says its development is part of a long-term strategic plan for Latymer, benefiting not just their students but many other users of the site, and the local community. It says the investment in the facilities on-site, will extend the range of sports available and improve access.

The entrance to the Polytechnic Stadium

The Polytechnic Stadium at the middle of the site, includes a 1936 Grade II Listed modernist style grandstand at the centre, with more recently constructed buildings wings either side of it occupied by The Little Gym, Bright Horizons Chiswick and Roko. The foundation says the existing tenants have been consulted about the plans and every effort is being made to ensure their activities are unaffected.

The grandstand and the changing rooms underneath have not been in use for over 20 years and the intention is to restore it with improved accessibility so that it can be reopened for sports days and major matches. A 3G pitch suitable for cricket and rugby will be restored in front of the stand as well as a section of running track. It is proposed that athletes from the Polytechnic who competed in the Olympics will be memorialised on the track as well as pupils from Latymer who excel in sport in the future. The starting line of the track would be recreated with inlaid brass strips while names of those to be immortalised would be recorded in embossed concrete lettering with relevant dates.

CGI from the application shows the new padel courts to be introduced to the site

Over 44 Olympic medals have been won by “Polytechnic Athletic Club” sports men and women including nine golds one of which was for the Jamaican Doctor and RAF WW2 pilot Arthur Wint who won over 400yds, 800yds and the 400yds hurdles at the Olympics in London in 1948 and in Stockholm in 1952.

In addition, there will be a new multi-sport area suitable for hockey, netball or tennis, three new cricket pitches in front of the pavilion one of which will be artificial as well as cricket nets, five new padel courts enclosed within a glass and wire mesh structure and a refurbishment of the existing all weather playing surfaces.

It is not clear what impact this will have on Polytechnic Football Club who have been playing at the site since 1905 and run up to ten teams playing on Saturdays.

The Cricket Pavilion to the western corner, was originally opened in 1906 and later extended in 1960. The new cricket pitches will be in front of the pavilion. The building is used by Polytechnic Football Club as their clubhouse and is accessed by all users of the site, including Richmond Hockey Club. The building includes changing rooms, a bar, a function room, associated catering facilities, and office spaces.

The application says that parking at the site is poorly managed and it intends to extend the car park as well as introducing ANPR (automated number plate recognition) and limiting free parking to registered users only.

An aerial view of the planned new complex from the application documents

There are three sweet chestnuts on the site which are between 500 - 900 years old and are subject to a Tree Preservation Order. The applicant says that the trees are not in direct conflict with any proposed new structures on the site and while they are close to the proposed location for the extended car park these spaces can be built without major impact.

Documents submitted with the application states that the upgrade to the site would not significantly increase traffic in the area.

If you wish to make comments on the application visit the planning section of Hounslow Council’s web site and search using the reference P/2023/1844.