Labour Make Another Bid to Convert HQ into Flats

Chiswick High Road base to be converted as a permitted development

The local Labour Party is trying once again to convert their headquarters on Chiswick High Road into flats.

They have issued a prior notification notice for the change of use of the ground floor from offices (B1 use) to provide 4 self contained residential flats (C3 use). The work is now regarded as a permitted development which does not require planning permission.

Sources in the local Labour party told us that they originally wanted to go for permitted development but then were told that because there were external alterations in their plans the work needed planning permission. When that was declined, they altered the plans to remove the need for external alterations and reverted to permitted development.

Earlier this year the party had applied for planning permission to convert the ground floor from office space to four self-contained studio flats. This application was refused despite there being no objections from local residents. Council planners said they were declining the application because the studio flats would not have private amenity space, there was unacceptable access to one of the flats, there was a failure to demonstrate access to the retained offices at ground floor level and a failure to provide marketing evidence to support the loss of office space. This was necessary to show that there was insufficient demand at that location to support the site's continued use as offices.

The local Labour party has told us that they have agreed to investigate relocating their headquarters to a more central place in the constituency.

Membership has doubled in the local party in the run-up to the last General Election and during the leadership contest and total membership in Chiswick is estimated at around 400 at present.

April 20, 2016