Demolition Recommended for Parade of Chiswick Shops
Planners urge approval of Acton Lane development
Chiswick Terrace before and after the planned development. Picture: Corstorphine + Wright Architects and KIPC
February 26, 2023
The proposal to redevelop the parade of shops at Chiswick Terrace looks set to proceed after council planners recommended it be approved.
The application is seeking permission to demolish the existing buildings from 1-15 Acton Lane and replace them with a five storey block which would include a mix of commercial, retail and residential use, comprising eight flats, eight office units with terraces. two retail units (totalling 697square metres) and a gym in the basement.
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, The You Clinic and national bathroom chain CP Hart. It is understood that these shops have been given the option to surrender their lease. We contacted several of the businesses operating in the parade when the proposal was originally announced and most said they would look to continue operating in Chiswick if they could find suitable premises.
There were a number of objections made to the proposal including on the grounds of excessive height and scale, parking issues and an overburdening of the existing sewage system.
The council’s planning department determined that there would be ‘no harm to the character of the conservation area, neighbours’ living conditions, the public highway’ and will be presenting a report to a forthcoming meeting of the borough planning committee recommending approval.
Shop units would continue to be situated on the ground floor of the new development with offices 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. 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 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.
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'.
Visualisation of the scheme looking north up Acton Lane. Picture: Corstorphine + Wright Architects and KIPC
If you wish to see more details about the proposals, visit the planning section of the Hounslow Council web site and search for reference P/2022/1138.
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