North Brentford Quarter gets the go-ahead

750 new apartments, a 25 storey building - and free window cleaning

Brentford will be home to another 755 apartments - including a 25 storey tower - after Barratt Homes' plans for the North Brentford Quarter were given the go-ahead by Hounslow Council's planning committee.

The new development will take place on the former Beechams Factory site on the A4. The proposals originally consisted of over 1000 housing units and a 30 storey tower. However concerns over overcrowding and the lack of jobs on offer on a site originally employing 3000 people resulted in local councillors insisting that the scheme was modified.

Most of the site will now have to be demolished. However Wallis House, the 1930s building at the front of the site, is a listed building and will be retained. As well as one, two and three bed apartments the scheme will include shops, a pub, a wine bar and health club and a 'Workspace' scheme that rents small offices to local small businesses. In total the site will consist of 18 buildings and an underground car park containing 1000 parking spaces.

The scheme has been under discussion for two years and has been modified following concerns over the dominance of the proposed 30 storey building and the large number of housing units. By the time the plans reached the Council's planning committee, though, agreement seems to have been reached. There were no speakers against the plans and all the Councillors on the committee - drawn from all political parties - supported the scheme.

There will be some relief in the impact on local residents following proposals by the Griffin Park Residents Association, representing streets around nearby Griffin Park. They have received agreement from Barratt's that no heavy traffic will use local roads - site vehicles will only use the A4 for entry and exit. They have also received a promise from Barratt's that nearby houses will have regular free visits from a window cleaner to get rid of the dust caused by demolition and construction.

Speaking of the arrangement, the GPRA's Matt Harmer told us "It was a suggestion from a local resident that the builders should do something about the effects of the building work. It seemed an entirely reasonable suggestion and we're pleased that Councillors and Barratt's supported us. We'll be setting up a liaison group to work with the company all the way through the demolition and construction process".

Demolition of the existing buildings is expected to start in the New Year.

8 Dec 2005