Gunnersbury Triangle Decision Looms

Mayor to decide future of nature reserve on Tuesday

The campaign to protect Chiswick's nature reserve at Gunnersbury Triangle reaches a climax on Tuesday, when the Mayor of London will make his decision regarding Blackstone's proposal for a six to eight storey development on Colonial Drive, off Bollo Lane.

Despite over 400 letters of objection, including several from environmental organisations, Ealing Planning Committee approved the proposal at their Planning Committee back on May 16th.

However, because of the scale of the development, their decision is subject to approval by the Mayor of London.

Celebrities including Simon King and many local campaigners have since written to the Mayor, urging him to reject the proposals as they stand, and to negotiate for a more sensitive development of this site.

The development site is wedged between the Nature Reserve and the London Overground and Piccadilly and District Line railways.

Campaigners are not against development in principle, and recognise the need for more housing, but want to see the buildings pushed back from the boundary with the nature reserve, with a good strip of planting between the blocks of flats and the woodland edge, with some reduction in height, so they are less over-bearing and reduce the impact on the tranquil character of the nature reserve.

Simon King on Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve

August 11, 2012