Plans for Future of Chiswick Terrace Revealed
Current parade of shops to be demolished for mixed-use development
Chiswick Terrace before and after the planned development. Picture: Corstorphine + Wright Architects and KIPC
The long rumoured plans for the redevelopment of a parade of shops in Chiswick have finally been published.
A planning application has been submitted to demolish Chiswick Terrace, which runs from 1-15 Acton Lane, and build a five storey mixed-use development that would also have a frontage onto Essex Place.
The block is at the rear of the Old Packhorse pub and includes businesses such as Chiswick Dental, Chiswick Camera Centre, Chiswick Security, G-Force Hair, Planet Solutions, Tree of Life Framing, The You Clinic and national bathroom chain CP Hart.
It is understood that these shops have been given the option to surrender their lease.
Shop units would continue to be situated on the ground floor of the new development with offices and flats above and a gym in the basement. The offices would be closer to the Old Packhorse. There would no longer be loading areas for the shops at the rear but more retail space would be provided facing Essex Place with the shops on Acton Lane getting deliveries from a new loading bay.
The next door building to the north on Acton Lane is also being reconstructed as part of a larger development project in the area leading to a transformation of this part of the road.
View of scheme from Essex Place. Picture: Corstorphine + Wright Architects and KIPC
The proposed development site, located between Acton Lane and Essex Place, comprises of approximately 0.12ha of land the site is presently occupied by six, 3 storey, flat roofed, linked buildings constructed in the middle of the 20th century with 9 flats above the shop unit. The developer's statement to the planning authority says 'the existing buildings could charitably be considered inoffensive in appearance'.
The replacement building would match the height of the Old Packhorse and echo the design with triangular parapets. It would be stepped down as it approaches the pub with a roof terrace and balconies looking south.
The developers say this arrangement would reinstate the Old Pack Horse as a keynote building.
Visualisation of the scheme looking north up Acton Lane. Picture: Corstorphine + Wright Architects and KIPC
Nine dual-aspect two-bedroom flats will be included in the scheme - 2 to each floor and a single, fully accessible, unit on the ground floor. The access to the apartments is proposed to be from Essex Place via a lobby served by a concierge with both lifts and stairs are provided to enable fully accessible accommodation.
To the right-hand side of the building, viewed from Acton Lane, four levels of office accommodation are to be provided.
We have contacted as many of the businesses in the parade as we could to check what impact this proposal would have on them. Andy Sands of the Chiswick Camera Centre said, "Our plan is to accept an option to surrender our lease and then find new premises locally to move into. We have no plan not to continue our business going forward as we have been an established business locally for a long time. I believe that the redevelopment will be a good thing as our block is not exactly an attractive building in its current state."
Chris Lew of Tree of Life Framing said, "This decision means I will be forced to exit the property and be forced to close my shop. I will have to look for another shop premises, but due to the over priced cost of the shop rentals in the high street due to greedy landlords and estate agents, I will have to move my business away from Chiswick for good. Unless the prices come down for shop rental premises in the area, then I will be leaving Chiswick."
Subash Aryal of Planet Solutions said, "We felt the proposed planning permission might happen any time with our premises when the major development started next to Sainsbury.
"We moved to this premises from Chiswick High Road few years back and the pandemic happened where business suffered for almost 2 years.
"Business was gradually coming back to normal and now we need to plan to find another premises in Chiswick if this proposed plan is to go ahead.
"With the increasing inflation, increasing rent and Rates in Chiswick, we ever doubt we will find premises in our budget in Chiswick to continue with this 25 years old company."
If you wish to see more details about the proposals and make a comment, visit the planning section of the Hounslow Council web site and search for reference P/2022/1138.
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June 27, 2022
