Forum Topic

Hounslow Council tonight gave consent for a 10 storey block on Hogarth Roundabout

The existing five storey block will be replaced by a 10 storey block. Approval had already been given for a six storey block. Cllr John Todd was the only member of the Committee to vote against it. He of course was the only committee member who actually represents a Chiswick Ward. There was pathetic pleading by a Labour Councillor to reduce the parking spaces from 67 to 37 (kind of missing the point surely?) he was ignored. Only a tiny proportion of the flats will be "affordable". Not sure how this addresses London's housing shortage, but no doubt the headline statistics will look good.

Sam Hearn ● 1d14 Comments

Your article supports Michael's claim that space used for parking is worth a lot more if used for building.If a parking space in London were used to build somewhere to live it would worth a lot more the £73k.

Will Watson ● 6h

There goes bike brained Robinson off on his rancid rants again. What he thinks and the truth are opposites here. But his views are so entrenched he won’t accept it when he’s wrong.https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/homeowners-without-parking-space-drive-30130108.amp

Simon Hayes ● 6h

"The developer will argue that reduced parking spaces will reduce the saleability of the flats "Really?  The reason why so many car parks are being converted to other uses and why new developments have minimal parking is that in London, developers make more per square foot for retail, residential and commercial use than they do from space used for car parking.  Land used for car parking is less valuable than if the land can be used to provide more sellable units.

Michael Robinson ● 8h

Michael, while nobody is doubting the willingness of the younger generation to walk and your own manly physical fitness, the issue here is not a moral one of what people should do. The developer will argue that reduced parking spaces will reduce the saleability of the flats and will be able to prevent evidence that this is what will happen. The development has a relatively low PTAL score and some people are too lazy and some people are simply not able to walk 17 minutes. This reduced pool of potential buyers will be reflected in an updated viability report which almost inevitably will result in a drop in the already meagre number of affordable flats

Jeremy Parkinson ● 10h

"17 minute walk away from the nearest station."However Sam, people of your generation are snowflakes who are so carbrained that the concept of not driving everywhere is beyond your comprehension.Fortunately younger generations are made of sterner stuff so a 17 minute walk to Turnham Green Tube station will not frighten them.  Maybe they will use a hire bike so the time to get there will be even less.With this 17 minutes from the nearest station thing, are you assuming the alternative was that you could always drive and park, or there would always be someone to pick you up when you arrive?

Michael Robinson ● 21h

The KC can't do anything apart from quibble.

Davy Jones ● 1d

Only ten out of the 132 "units" are classed as affordable. So much for solving London's housing crisis. How long before the developers come back and ask for even these ten to be removed as they have for the enabling development blocks close to The GTec stadium? Only 37 parking spaces for 132 "units" that are a 17 minute walk away from the nearest station.

Sam Hearn ● 1d

Good for Cllr. Todd, as for Cllrs. Bruce and Stroud-Turp - they are a disgrace to the Labour party. Shameful the lot of them.

Vanessa Smith ● 1d

Thanks for clarifying Jeremy.

Andrew Jones ● 1d

Old Chiswick Protection Society. Its president Russell Harris is a KC who specialises in planning and he spoke at the meeting.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1d

OCPS?

Andrew Jones ● 1d

The virtue signalling amendment by Cllr Stroud Turp will mean that the developer will submit an amended viability report with even fewer affordable units on account of the lack of parking space reduces the potential sale price of the market units. Plus people living in the area will not only have their views blighted by this huge building but will suffer increased pressure on available parking.Presumably the hope here is the amazing blunder made by Cllr Bruce in admitting that the £6million in Community Infrastructure Levy was a key reason the new scheme was preferably to the earlier one. I would anticipate that the OCPS's in house KC is going to make ample use of this error.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1d

Like the Labour Homelessness Minister who increased her flat rent by £700 a month. These people are really disgusting.

Steve Taylor ● 1d

Correction: The Labour Cllr was not ignored - the parking for this huge ten storey development will be reduced to (I think 37 from 67). All of these spaces will be only for EV vehicles. This a little weird coming from a councillor who claims to support the building of affordable housing - ordinary people cannot afford EV vehicles does he not know that? He really is living in a "bubble" disconnected from the real world.

Sam Hearn ● 1d