Deadline Approaching For Responses To Riverside Houseboat Moorings Appeal

Objectors say it will be detrimental to the Conservation area at Strand on the Green

How the river view could look with the proposed scheme

The deadline for responses to the appeal by a developer against a refusal for permission to moor houseboats at Steam Packet Steps, Strand on the Green is 27 March.

Thames Floating Homes is appealing to the Secretary of State against Hounslow Council’s refusal of their revised planning application application for moorings for two houseboats. The appeal will be determined on the basis of written representations made to Hounslow Council.

The Strand on the Green Association (SoGA) objected to the original and revised application on several grounds, including visual impact on a conservation area, the potential for navigational hazards, damage to ecology, and noise, pollution and rubbish. They also said it would have led to 'houseboat creep' in the area. The revised planning application was turned down by Hounslow Council as "an incongrous and unwelcome addition " to the area. The developer is currently appealing this.

This is the current view at Strand on the Green towards Kew Bridge

There were 119 objections to the renewed bid. The West London River Group, Kew Society and Grove Park Residents opposed it, while the Residential Boat Owners Association supported it.

The applicant maintains that the proposal complies with Local Plan policy for residential moorings and claimed that river frontage at Strand on the Green had been used for mooring boats and barges from the 18th century until the mid-20th century.

SoGA , which will be issuing its response to the Appeal, say the above photos show what difference the houseboats will make to the view over the Thames towards Kew Bridge located in a Conservation area. They say residents will also lose some the small area of park by the river because of the houseboat's infrastructure (see below, the area is opposite Cafe Rouge).

If you have any comments to make on the proposal you can submit them through the planning inspectorate’s web site. The deadline for responses is 27 March. If you do not have access to the internet, you can send your comments to: Katie Walter 3G Temple Quay House 2 The Square Bristol BS1 6PN

Details of the Appeal are available on the Hounslow planning website - ref: APP/F5540/W/19/3222684

March 8, 2019