Proposal Made to Build Flats in The Butts

Scout Hut site is last available plot in historic Market Place square

CGI from architect showing how building might look

A proposal to build flats in The Butts has been presented to Hounslow Council.

The four new housing units would be situated on the site of the former scout hut next to the Boatman’s Institute. It is the only vacant site in the historic Market Place square.

The plans drawn up by Juice Architects on behalf of P Goddard and Sons Ltd are for a two storey building which would mix modern design with the use of materials designed to echo existing buildings in the area which date back as far as the seventeenth century.

The site sits between the River Brent in the west and the square. Approval had been given to build two semi-detached houses at the site but this lapsed in 2013 and it has remained vacant ever since.

The site as it was over 100 years ago. Picture: Local Studies Centre

A pre-application meeting took place in 2018 with the Planning and Conservation Officers and it was confirmed by the officers that a residential development would be acceptable in principle. The presented site layout at that meeting however has been updated to take into consideration the Planning and Conservation Officer’s comments. The refinements to the design included narrowing the footprint of the proposed building to increase the space between the Boatmen’s Institute to maintain the view from Butts square to the river.

CGI of the planned building

The developer has also committed to reinforce the river wall and has been given permission from the Environment Agency to do so.

Some of the flats will have balconies overlooking the river and there will be a shared amenity space by the waterside. The proposed building would be 8m back from the new riverbank.

The development of the Butts started when Butts closes were granted by Goldsmith in 1663 to William Parish, innkeeper of New Brentford The existing buildings were erected from the late 17th Century and further houses were added during the early 18th Century in an area which was originally used for the local market. Links to river transport allowed it to thrive. It has since become one of the most sought after private residential squares in west London.

How flats might look from across Market Place

The planning reference for the application is P/2020/1774. You can make representations by searching with this reference on the planning section of Hounslow Council’s web site.

Hounslow Council are proceeding with the processing of planning applications during the coronavirus lockdown despite concerns being expressed by some residents’ groups that proper consultation will be impossible. The council continue to place the statutory notice for planning applications in the Chronicle and Informer alone even though it is not generally circulating in the areas affected and the government has advised local authorities to use other media when there is a deficiency in existing arrangements. Some local heritage groups this could provide part of the grounds for a judicial review should the council approve schemes during this period.

June 12, 2020