Revised Designs for Old Market Place Published

New proposals see more greenery but a further reduction in parking

The car park in Chiswick as it is currently

September 26, 2023

A new set of proposals has been published by the Chiswick Flower Market for the car park in central Chiswick where its event is held every month.

During July and August, comments were invited on an earlier plan drawn up for improvements to the Old Market Place area between 167 and 211 Chiswick High Road.

365 responses were received and were collated by Create Streets an organisation which specialises in the public realm and urban landscapes.

It provided the platform to handle the ‘Co-Design Initiative’ in which people were encouraged to make suggestions and criticisms of the preliminary design drawn up by landscape architect Luke Greysmith.

An outline of these was provided at a stall at the market with shoppers encouraged to give their views and ideas for the improvement of the area which has seen no significant investment since the seventies.

The Flower Market says that the responses have now been incorporated into a revised design and this will be the basis for the submission to the council for official consideration. If the borough agrees with the proposals, there will then be further consultation as the project progresses.

The sponsors of the project say they have worked in partnership with various departments of the council, with local businesses and residents, as well as the police and the arboriculture team plus ‘those councillors willing to engage’.

Although the planned demolition of the police station and the rebuilding of the Birchgrove facility for assisted living for the elderly will require parts of the car park to be taken over for an extended period, it is hoped that this could be a source of potential funding for the Old Market Place project and the two schemes could be co-ordinated to minimise disruption.

A range of comments about the new proposals were published with the majority being broadly positive. For instance, Dr Tilly Collins, FRES, Senior Fellow & Deputy Director, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London said, “The designs for renovating Old Market Place are excellent. These will bring greater biodiversity, provide nature-based ecosystem services and enhance the ways in which the space can be used for residents and visitors. Multifunctional urban design of this quality and inclusivity is rarely seen.”

However, another respondent said with reference to drawings published with the earlier design, “This appears to show a fantasy land from the Barbie film. It's a typical artist's impression that in effect bears no relation to reality. This side of the high road has relatively low footfall due to the few shops and the fact that a large expanse, formerly the police station, will be taken up by the older peoples planned flats. Removing valuable parking spaces to replace them with a few benches, planters and paving is absurd. We don't need a space for 'performances
by local musicians....and other attractions'. This is simply your excuse for removing parking space.”

The revised designs do see the number of parking bays reduced further. The original proposal made in June would have resulted in a drop in the number of parking spaces from 52 to 44 but this latest plan envisages a further reduction to 33 of which 12 would be EV charging points which could also double up as feeder pillars for market stalls. The motorcycle bay would be moved from Linden Gardens to a central space with provision for five bikes. There would also be two spaces for cargo bikes and 18 cycle stands.

Plan of new design showing parking bays

The designs show that the extra loss of parking bays has mainly come from a revision of the layout in front of the former police station, which is set to be converted into flats for the elderly. The pavement area in front will be occupied by planters and vehicles will park parallel to the pavement.

A report into the survey states that 71% of respondents were in favour of reduced parking and many of the comments received supported this view with some suggesting the car park be removed altogether. A statement from the Flower Market issued with the new designs categorically states it is not its intention to completely remove parking spaces from the area.

It continues, “Our High Streets have changed. We don’t need to read the research (which we have!) to know that many of us shop online, that many of us have heavy items delivered, that there is a climate and pollution emergency, that there is a biodiversity crisis, that our urban landscape is subject to sudden flooding as rainstorms become fiercer, that trees can help to ease the heat island effect.”

However, many of the less positive comments about the proposals concerned parking in the area with respondents claiming that further loss of bays would further discourage visitors to the area who were already finding it difficult and expensive to park.

Respondents gave a high degree of importance to the raingardens and a sustainable drainage proposal is going to be developed as the area has become subject to flash flooding. This will have an impact on whether kerbs are raised or flush.

An artist's impression of the earlier proposal. Picture: Luke Greysmith

There will be eight seating areas in the area with respondents showing some enthusiasm for an outdoor eating area and perhaps a small stage for live music events although the suggestion of Punch and Judy shows appeared to be less popular.

All the existing trees in the area would be maintained with their root zones improved and eight saplings would be added as well as 12 more in raised planters.

Plan of new design showing market stalls

Modifications to the earlier design have also been made after consultation with people with visual impairment and disabilities.

The full revised design, which will now be submitted to the council, is at www.chiswickflowermarket.com.