Brentford Project Traders Raise Concerns About Footfall

Hewson Books temporary closure adds to vacant units

A sign appeared in the bookshop's window announcing that they were taking a break

January 31, 2025

The sudden announcement of a temporary closure by Hewson Books has prompted some shop owners in the Brentford Project to express concerns about footfall in the area.

The independent bookshop had been a key signing for the development and a popular addition but this week a sign has appeared saying, “We are closing to give our staff a well-deserved rest. We hope to see you when we reopen later in the year. Thank you for shopping with us!”

The company’s web site says that the shop will return in the spring.

We contacted them to ask for further details and await a response but other businesses in the area believe that the premises are being shut to await the launch of the Everyman Cinema which is currently expected to launch in late March or early April. Originally Ballymore had hoped that the cinema would be open last autumn.

Cllr Guy Lambert said, “I'm hoping they will be back soon. It is a lovely shop and a real coup for Brentford when they arrived.”

Ultimately there will be around 14,000 square metres of retail space in the Brentford Project with completion anticipated by 2027. Although many of the completed retail units are already occupied many remain vacant with some awaiting occupation by businesses that are moving from Albany Parade. Originally there was supposed to be a smooth transition between the two locations but issues with leases have meant that some businesses remain in limbo. Other businesses such as Costa Coffee have had specific issues which have delayed their arrival in the area.

This has prompted some shops operating in the area to fear that that the retail offering may be losing some momentum and that the number of visitors to the area is below their expectations. Although the opening of Sam's Waterside and the imminent cinema launch has raised optimism, some are looking further out to the arrival of Lidl further up the High Street which they fear may pull customers away from the completed areas of the development.

One business owner said, “I have no regrets about moving here but we have challenges ahead in the next few months relating to rising staff costs so we desperately need more people through the door. The Everyman should make a big difference, if only to give people from outside Brentford an opportunity to discover the place. Empty units, however, really do detract from the area and so it is just as important that they get filled up.”

Another trader said, “The opportunities here are amazing but there is a danger for some of us of being the pioneers with arrows in their backs and finding that others reap the benefit of what is happening. Nobody was misled about the timescales of the progress of the development, but it is frustrating to see vacant units and announcement about new tenants that either never materialise or take a lot longer to arrive than originally anticipated.”

A commercial estate agent working in the area said, “It is common for retail occupancy rates to fluctuate during the development process and Ballymore needs to engage with current and potential tenants to ensure the project's success.”

A large number of commercial units located within the development are let directly by Hounslow Council and Ballymore is not party to these agreements but the developer says that and any of these units that are not currently let are either subject to significant interest from potential tenants or are in the final stages of negotiations and legal agreements.

A spokesperson for Ballymore, “The majority of commercial units in The Brentford Project are open and trading, and the Everyman Cinema is fully on track to open in April.

“High street retail across the UK has faced challenging trading conditions, particularly in recent weeks this winter. Nevertheless, there is significant interest in the development’s few remaining available premises and we are working with commercial tenants to help identify ways we can collectively increase customer footfall.”