Chiswick Tower Scheme to Go Before Planning Committee
Proposal would see building converted into 394 co-living units
A visualisation from the developer of a reclad Chiswick Tower
November 27, 2025
The future of Chiswick Tower is set to be debated at a forthcoming meeting of Hounslow Council’s planning committee, as councillors weigh a full planning application for a large-scale redevelopment of the site at 389 Chiswick High Road.
The proposal, submitted under reference P/2025/0794, would see the 19-storey office block transformed into a co-living complex with 394 rooms, alongside a new nine-storey annex building containing 23 affordable units, co-working space, public realm upgrades, and improvements to the entrance of Gunnersbury Station.
The owner wishes to convert its upper floors into shared-living accommodation, with rooms ranging from 18 to 29 square metres. Each unit would include a bed, en-suite bathroom, kitchenette, and storage. Communal amenities such as lounges, kitchens, wellness studios and workspaces would be distributed across several floors.
The scheme also includes a new annex building fronting Chiswick High Road, which would provide 23 social rent homes ranging from one to four bedrooms. A children’s play area, landscaped public spaces, and a linear park with pedestrian and cycle routes are also planned. The developer has agreed to safeguard land for future improvements to Gunnersbury Station, including potential step-free access and congestion relief, though no station works are included in the current application.
The application, lodged in April, is being considered at the meeting on Thursday 4 December as a major scheme with significant public interest and would require a Section 106 legal agreement if approved. It represents the most ambitious phase of a multi-year redevelopment strategy for the site, which has also seen fallback applications and permitted development proposals submitted in parallel.
A visualisation of a potential redesign of Gunnersbury Station from planning documents
A separate application proposes to re-clad Chiswick Tower.
In a parallel move, the building’s owners have submitted a separate 'bare bones' application under national permitted development rights to convert the existing office block directly into 197 self-contained flats. Registered under reference PAC/2025/3503, this Class MA Prior Approval application would see the entire tower reconfigured internally, with no external changes, no affordable housing, and no public realm enhancements.
A visualisation of how the Wellesley Road entrance to Gunnersbury station might look
Because Prior Approval applications are assessed only on technical criteria such as natural light, transport impact and fire safety, the council has limited discretion to reject them. If approved, the conversion could begin in late 2026 and be completed within two years.
The developer has not indicated whether the Prior Approval scheme is a fallback or a preferred route, but the application form confirms it does not supersede earlier consents, suggesting both options remain active.
Chiswick Tower viewed from across Gunnersbury Station
The full planning application has drawn mixed responses. Local societies and MPs have raised concerns about the pressure on Gunnersbury Station, the scale of the development, and the impact on local infrastructure. However, there is support for the inclusion of affordable housing, public realm improvements, and the safeguarding of land for future station upgrades.
Transport for London and Network Rail have welcomed the opportunity to explore station improvements but have stressed the need for further feasibility studies and funding commitments. The West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society has called for stronger guarantees on phasing, public access, and wind mitigation measures.
The planning committee will assess the full application its meeting, considering its merits against the fallback Prior Approval scheme and the broader strategic context. If approved, the co-living development could begin construction in 2026, with phased delivery and potential integration with future station upgrades.
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