Claiming Gunnersbury Triangle will suffer 'irreversible damage' if flats are built

Gunnersbury Triangle Nature reserve planned development

The Green Party in Ealing are opposing plans to build flats and a visitor centre on a site by the Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve in Chiswick.

They disagree with the London Wildlife Trust’s (LWT) view that the impact of building the flats next to the site will be negligible and are concerned about the lack of detail given in the plans about the visitor centre. They are asking instead that the land be given to the nature reserve.

The developer of the five storey block containing nine flats is Hounslow Council through its Lampton property company and the build is to be located on a small area of brownfield land within and adjacent to the nature reserve. The education centre would be located on the ground floor of the building.

Marijn van de Geer, from the local Green Party said, “The Gunnersbury Triangle is the only real woodland in the area. Woodlands have a much higher value for biodiversity than other green spaces such as parks, even if they are only small. Therefore it is essential that at a time when we are facing unprecedented decline in biodiversity we do everything we can to protect any bit of woodland we can, including the space that surrounds it.”

The Greens opposed previous developments around the site in which several large blocks of flats were built on the periphery of the nature reserve. They say that since the building of these flats on Bollo Lane the decrease in wildlife including bats, birdlife and insects has been noticeable to regular visitors.

Marijn van de Geer adds, “The LWT describes the impact on wildlife as 'negligible', however we believe there can be no doubt that the impact of local wildlife will be serious. The disturbance that will be caused by the construction works and subsequently the light from the flats once completed and additional lighting at the exterior of the building, the proposed elevation and obstruction of through ways for wildlife, as well as the increase of human activity on the plot of the scrapyard will impact the wildlife living in the adjacent Gunnersbury Triangle nature reserve. This will result in species abandoning the area and it is unclear where they could go or what will happen to them.”

The Greens have also expressed concern about the plans for the visitor centre, They say, “The ground floor of the development is allegedly going to be given to the LWT as their new office and an education centre. However, there are currently no drawings to show us where the LWT’s office and education space will go, nor what the new entrance will look like.”

While acknowledging the need for more housing the Greens are asking the Council to give the scrapyard land to the Gunnersbury Triangle, which is a Metropolitan Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. They cite the recent decision by Ealing Council to give a long lease on Warren Farm in Hanwell to QPR as indicative of their willingness to ‘give away land’ although the site is owned by Hounslow Council. They believe the community can raise the money for a simple, eco-friendly space for the Gunnersbury Triangle on the current scrapyard site where they can work and also deliver educational sessions to members of the local community and beyond.

Chief Executive of the LWT, Gordon Scorer, said, “For 30 years, we have been looking to bring forward a new wildlife centre for Gunnersbury Triangle. With the support of the London Borough of Hounslow, Lampton360 and EcoWorld, we will finally realise this dream. It will be a fantastic community asset, particularly for local children and families who will be able to make the most of the rich diversity of nature in Gunnersbury Triangle."

The Trust says, "The new building will at its highest point be five storeys high, and located so that only a marginal part of the reserve will receive any additional shading in early summer mornings. We are confident that any impact on the wildlife or natural assets of the nature reserve will be negligible, and have advised on ensuring that the new development is as wildlife-friendly as possible. Green roofs and living walls are planned to be installed on the building."

Located just across the road from Chiswick Park Underground Station on Bollo Lane, Gunnersbury Triangle opened to the public in 1985, having been saved from development by local campaigners, supported by LWT and the former Greater London Council. It is now a statutory Local Nature Reserve. Owned by London Borough of Hounslow and managed by LWT, the reserve is cared for by a small onsite Trust staff team and a dedicated group of volunteers.

The planning application is currently with the local planning authority, London Borough of Ealing, for consideration and the deadline for comments is 6 November. If permission is granted, work is due to start in the first half of 2019.

November 4, 2018