Decision Looms on Police Station Redevelopment
Planning officers are recommending approval for Birchgrove scheme
A visualisation of the development provided with the planning application. Picture: Birchgrove
January 28, 2024
Opponents of a proposal for the demolition of the former Chiswick Police Station and building of retirement flats that the scheme will be blocked at a forthcoming planning meeting.
Councillors are set to vote on Monday 5 February on the application (P/2023/1632) by Birchgrove for flats designed to cater for the elderly.
The scheme was put out for public consultation, but the final designs were largely unchanged from those proposed originally for 205-207 Chiswick High Road apart from the removal of some balconies overlooking Linden Gardens. A second consultation saw 36 objections with only five in support.
The new apartments will be available for rent only and will provide integrated care for residents with the facility registered with the Care Quality Commission. Support services will be available 24 hours a day.
They will only be available to those aged 65 or over and the average age of a tenant is expected to be 83. There will be communal facilities on the ground floor some of which will be open to local residents on a controlled basis. A dedicated community space will be located on Chiswick High Road which will be available for local groups, charities and individuals to hire at ‘minimal cost’ and Birchgrove has committed to provide facilities for use by the local police team if approval is given. This could mean that a police base is re-established on the High Road in around three years’ time if the project proceeds.
A number of local residents in the vicinity of the development are opposed as is the Linden Gardens Residents Association (LGRA). Requests have been made by several people to speak against the scheme at the meeting.
Generally, opponents of the scheme welcome the demolition of the former police building and are not against the use of the site for retirement homes but they say the current proposal is inappropriate for the site.
Visualisation of the building looking west up Chiswick High Road. Picture: Birchgrove
The main objection is what they see as the excessive bulk and mass of the proposed building which replaces a predominantly 4 storey structure with a six storey one which, it is claimed, will dominate the surrounding area.
It is also contended that the addition of 50 new homes in the area, compared to the 120 households, both flats and gardens, will have make the Linden Gardens area one of ultra-high density occupation.
The design of the proposed building is also criticised with detractors saying it will appear like an incongruous office building in the middle of a landmark Chiswick conservation area with a rich architectural heritage.
With regard to the plan to provide the police with facilities in the new building, opponents have described it as ‘an unethical inducement’ by the developer to curry favour with the planning committee.
Lovells, which occupies 203 Chiswick High Road, the only building that abuts the planned development, has commissioned an independent light assessment by XC02, which contradicts the findings of the consultant employed by Birchgrove on the loss of light to neighbouring properties.
Lovells also contends that the traffic generated by the 50 units including regular ambulance visits will cause undue pressure on an ‘already saturated’ Linden Gardens unless access is enabled from Prince of Wales Terrace.
A visualisation of the interior area of the building. Picture: Birchgrove
Despite these objections, the councillors on the planning committee will be presented with a report from the borough’s planning team recommending that they approve the application.
The scheme would provide a financial contribution of at least £400,000 towards extracare affordable housing in the Borough and it has been assessed as highly sustainable achieving a minimum of 77% reduction in carbon emissions over the regulatory baseline.
The planners conclude , “The proposal would comprehensively redevelop the site, making best use of the land, while preserving the wider character of the Chiswick High Road Conservation Area. The scheme would be consistent with the objectives of the Development Plan, delivering much needed extra-care housing for the elderly, optimising the site by focusing growth at sustainable locations with good transport accessibility.”
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