New Plan for Even Taller Gypsy Corner Skyscraper
58-storey tower would be West London's highest residential building
A visualisation showing the two proposed towers on the right viewed from North Acton Playing Fields. Picture: Aldau
April 25, 2024
A new design has been submitted for two tower blocks at 4 Portal Way by the A40 Western Avenue near Gypsy Corner.
Egyptian property developer Aldau Development has abandoned an earlier scheme which had planning approval to construct two towers on the same site, the taller of which would have been 55 storeys but this has now been increased to 58-storeys in the latest proposal.
The building, which would reportedly be West London’s highest residential tower, will be higher than existing structures in the area which are already visible across parts of Acton and Chiswick.
The revised proposals incorporate a second staircase in both buildings after regulation changes required them to be installed in buildings over a certain height.
The application has been made to the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation which is the planning authority for the site. It is for two mixed-use residential-led buildings with the shorter one 44 storeys high.
There would be 669 flats of which 35% would be classed as affordable and a 90-room hotel with commercial and retail space at the ground floor level. The taller north building would contain 451 flats with 218 in the south building and 65% of the units would be build-to-rent with 25% provided at Discounted Market Rent and 10% at London Living Rent with all tenures spread across both buildings.
The original design, approved in 2020 was by architectural practice KPF and envisaged two towers linked by a bridge on the ninth floor. This scheme had 702 flats and a 159 room hotel.
A visualisation of the now abandoned scheme viewed travelling east on the A40
The 55-storey tower would already have been the tallest in this cluster of skyscrapers at 237 metres high but the new proposals drawn up by Apt could see an even taller main building although the second tower will be one storey shorter.
The Cairo-based developer is quoted in Building Design magazine as saying, “Since the existing planning permission was approved in February 2020 there have been significant events nationally and globally that have affected developments across London.
“These include: the covid-19 pandemic, changes to fire regulations, raw materials shortages, inflationary pressures on build costs, supply issues and rapidly rising energy costs.
“Whilst the existing scheme could be amended or adjusted, a wholesale approach to tackle the key items such as introducing two fire stairs, dual aspect façades and a more sustainable energy strategy warranted a holistic review.
“As such a redesign from the ground up was undertaken in 2022-2024 in close collaboration and consultation with the [Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation] since January 2023.
“The proposed scheme has evolved from a design lead approach with core principles retained throughout.”
Another scheme for a 56-storey three tower project by Pilbrow & Partners at 1 Portal Way was approved last November.
There were 167 objections to the earlier scheme at 4 Portal Way made mainly on the basis of height and inappropriateness for the area.
You can find out more details about the application and make comments on the OPDC website.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |
