Development Near Empire House Not Connected With Lend Lease

Details revealed of plan for flats and retail in run down stretch opposite Turnham Green

396-398 Chiswick High Road. Picture: Google Streetview

A plan to develop a neglected stretch of the High Road with a flats and retail space near Empire House, has nothing to do with the Lendlease development or Sainsbury's, and is a totally separate project, the Chiswick Area Forum has been told.

A pre-application presentation for 396-400 Chiswick High Road outlined plans to regenerate the units currently occupied by Carpet Right and Daniel Beds. The proposal is for 22 units of 1,2 and 3 bedroomed apartments over 4/5 storeys, with retail space at ground level. The plans envisage the development to be built in a quasi pavilion style maintaining a three-storey elevation at street level before stepping back. The current units are two-storey high buildings with the top storey vacant.

Richard Brown, of Keith Williams Architects, said they planned to create a building which would positively enhance the area not only fronting onto the High Road but towards the rear. There would be a percentage given over to affordable housing.

He said development would be very careful to conserve the look of the area. While plans were not available, it was likely to be built in brick, and be in keeping with many of the listed buildings in the vicinity, such as Arlington Mansions.

A member of the public commented that the concern of local people in Chiswick would be the height as the area was subject to having giant buildings proposed. He asked about the height of the proposed development. He was told, " It's not a tower but must be proportionally responding to buildings on either side." They (the developers) were "not in cahoots" with Lend Lease or Sainsbury's or anyone else.

Local people have been hoping that some regeneration of the area would finally happen, given the run-down look as retail units close. Valentina's Italian restaurant recently closed, citing the delay in the Lend Lease development as one of the factors for closure, due to loss of anticipated customers. You can read more of the background to the local development.

Councillor Paul Lynch (chairing the CAF) said it would be important to have a building of dignity on the site. Councillor John Todd queried the plans for access and whether there would be parking, affordable housing and balconies.

He was told the percentage for affordable housing had not been specified as of yet, no parking had been planned for, and balconies would probably be included but they hoped they would be part of the street frontage.

396-398 Chiswick High Road is owned by a company called Yelloway which is based in the Isle of Man. Yelloway also owns a property in Brixton at which there is currently a planning application to develop a five storey hotel by a Miraj Investments a company with a base in Colliers Wood which was incorporated in October 2014.

November 15, 2017