Fight To Save Chiswick House Of 'Heritage Value'

Locals oppose housing group plan to knock building

Residents in the Sutton Court Road area are opposing plans to demolish a nearby Victorian house to develop accommodation for the care of mental health patients.

The locals say they are not opposed to supported housing in principle but the development as planned would be "trampling on a conservation site for development".

The One Housing Group proposed to demolish the existing house and build a two-storey house to install fifteen single-bed units and staff accommodation. A public consultation and exhibition were held earlier this year and it is understood that there are now over 150 objections lodged.

Locals claim that local historians view the property as a physical marker and gateway to the Wellesley Road Conservation Area and as such has an important heritage significance to the locality which must be preserved. 

They say the site dates back to 1740 and the house, which was formerly an artist's residence and once used as a doctor's surgery, is of heritage value and could be restored to its former glory instead of being demolished.

At present the scale and the design of the proposed development by the One Housing Group is too large, and it is "incompatible" with the existing Conservation zone, according to locals who also say it is "questionable" for the provision of care for mental health patients. Some objectors believe that there is an "over concentration of supported housing in a small vicinity".

The housing group propose to demolish the existing house and install fifteen single-bed units and staff accommodation. The house was formerly used for the purpose of supported housing by the Patchwork charity, now part of the One Housing Group.

A decision is expected to be made under delegated powers and locals hope the application will be refused. One local woman told ChsiwickW4.com it was important to retain such traditional buildings in Chiswick. "It's not some middle-class luxury, we need to fight to keep these buildings which are of conservation value".

The developer, One Housing Group (OHG) says the building is not fit for the purpose envisaged and needs to be developed. A public consultation and exhibition of plans was held earlier this year.

We have contacted the housing group for a comment on the matter.

September 17, 2013