Developing Planning Policy for the Golden Mile

Public Consultation to happen in the summer

Great West Road, courtesy BHSProject

Thursday night saw a small group of representatives of local community groups attend a pre-consultation meeting about the Great West Corridor (GWC). A similar meeting took place the previous week where councillors, businesses, landowners and developers looked at the future of the Great West Road.

A full public consultation will be launched this summer about the future of the A4 as part of policy improvements to Hounslow's Local Plan as recommended by the Planning Inspector. Latest documentation from last year's review is available online.

The London Plan, which is currently being reviewed, identifies the GWC as a "future Opportunity Area" (para A1.4 Annex 1) which means it has "significant capacity to accommodate new housing, commercial and other development linked to existing or potential improvements to public transport accessibility".

Urban Iniatives Studio presented the Great West Corridor, reminding attendees of the location, setting, history and current issues. The information presented and summarised below is DRAFT and may change before the formal consultation.

At the previous stage of development of the GWC plan the entirety of Brentford was included. The proposed boundaries are much narrower, stretching from the Nishkam School to the Power Road Business Estate and bounded to the south by the railway line. All references to K** Gate have been dropped and replaced by Brentford East. Some 2000 homes will need to be incorporated within the plan.

Great West Road has

• iconic landmark art deco buildings
• Sky with 18000 employees
• wide mix of businesses from international headquarters down to small offices
• heavy vehicular traffic, including related noise and pollution
• poor pedestrian access (along and across)
• poor public transport
• advertisements, mostly aimed at the M4 as the gateway into London
• car showrooms
• nearby parks and schools
• high density residential
• a lack of small amenities (corner shops, cafes, social hubs)
• "prior approval" applications to transform offices into residential

The viability of a new rail link between Southall and a new station at Transport Avenue is currently being assessed.  As part of this work, the potential for the extension of this line to Brentford is also being examined.  The longer term plan also includes extending the Overground from Hounslow to Old Oak Common and inclusion of the provision of a new station adjacent to Lionel Road.

The principal objective is "to transform the Golden Mile into a 21st Century Business Hub". Supporting objectives to achieve this are to:

• build on existing big business presence
• reduce dependency on cars
• provide mix of uses
• celebrate "gateway to London"
• improve the public realm with a "Great West Boulevard"
• better integrate with surrounding areas

The Great West Corridor was divided into opportunity areas with different focii which include:

• West Cross campus to become Chiswick Park 2.0
• "Makers Village" - light industrial across the road from West Cross
• "Brent River Quarter" - residential straddling the canal either fronted by commercial or on top of
• corner with Boston Manor Road to be intensified with offices
• Showcase - stretch of car rooms works well for the area and is happening naturally
• further residential opportunity around the Lionel Road development and Capital Interchange Way extending across B&Q site
• office park in front of Gunnersbury park
• Power Road Creative Quarter
• five "activity hubs" along the A4 where natural footfall occurs and shops and amenities should be developed

Those present divided up and brought up issues to be considered in the development of the Great West Road and the impact on the surrounding neighbourhoods. The list below is by no means exhaustive:

• traffic bottle-necks at Chiswick Roundabout and Kew Bridge
• traffic along A4 (including the increasing cumulative impact as developments in the borough happen; growth of Heathrow)
• improvements to Gunnersbury station (which is still waiting for pedestrian bridge to Chiswick Park)
• improved buses along A4 and up to stations; shuttle buses along A4
• improved cycle routes and superhighway
• improve access routes between all stations and A4
• should residential on the A4 be allowed due to air quality (which is worse on ground)
• risk of isolation in some locations (both for staff and residents) if access not improved
• how to improve the landscape of the A4; trees, planting, pavements
• design code for new buildings needed to emulate the quality, grandeur and landscaping of the art deco buildings
• need to improve the A4 under the M4 flyover for pedestrians and cyclists
• crossings and access from stations
• existing green space such as Carville Hall Park, Boston Manor and Gunnersbury will not be lost or diminished
• building heights were not discussed
• activity hubs are at junctions where pollution is worse
• no evidence on danger of ads to traffic and therefore very difficult to stop
• will East Brentford have access to secondary schools
• precise boundary of the Great West Corridor
• impact on views from Kew Gardens and Gunnersbury Park
• facilities on A4 detract from town centre of Brentford

The meeting provided a good opportunity for views to be expressed and hopefully included before the Great West Corridor policy is finalised for consultation. At least one public meeting was agreed to present the policy to the public.

March 19, 2017