Chiswick Roundabout Tower Plan Sees Height Increase
The James co-living apartment building now proposed to be 27 storeys
A visualisation of The James Chiswick submitted with the application. Picture: Ackroyd Lowrie
November 13, 2026
The co-living operator The James has formally submitted its planning application for the long-empty site beside Chiswick Roundabout. The proposal, registered with Hounslow Council as P/2026/3073, is for a tricorn-shaped tower that reaches 27 storeys at its tallest point. That is three storeys more than the 24-storey scheme the previous consented plan, Holly House, and more than residents were led to expect at the public consultation in June.
The application seeks permission for a mixed-use building made up of purpose-built shared living (co-living), conventional flats, and shops and offices at ground and first floor. The submitted design has the same number of accommodation units as earlier indicated with 496 co-living studios and 60 flats. The flats sit in the smallest of the building's three wings, and the co-living rooms fill the two taller wings.
The Planning Statement, prepared by DP9, says the building would rise to a maximum of 99.4 metres above sea level (AOD), with 27 storeys at its tallest point in the south-east wing, the one facing Chiswick Roundabout. The Design and Access Statement submitted by Ackroyd Lowrie gives the height as 88.7m to the top of the parapet, or 90.2m to the top of the lift overrun. The two lower wings step down from that peak. Roof-level terraces, including a "sky terrace" on level 25, are enclosed by glazed "crowns" at the top of each wing.
A visualisation of the James Chiswick viewed looking south down Gunnersbury Avenue. Picture: Ackroyd Lowrie
The biggest change is height from earlier proposals is the height. When The James consulted residents in June, with online sessions on 8 and 9 June and a drop-in at the Clayton Hotel on 11 June, its display boards showed an outline of the consented Holly House scheme and told visitors the new proposals "remain within the height and massing of Holly House". Holly House was approved in November 2024 as a 24-storey building. The developer's scoping note, reported a 24-storey tower that would not exceed Holly House.
A 3-D model of the building (shown in blue) in context submitted as part of the application
Holly House was described as "up to 24 storeys or 90 metres above sea level and the new building as 27 storeys at 99 meters. On those figures the tower is about 9m taller than the scheme it was meant to stay within. The applicant says the new design's overall massing and height are "reduced" compared with Holly House, and argues that the three-wing layout cuts the bulk of the building.
On affordable housing, the earlier scoping note submitted by the applicant, described 60 affordable homes. The final application instead offers three alternative packages, to be fixed in a legal agreement: all 60 flats at discount market rent (80% of market rent); 24 flats, split evenly between social rent and discount market rent; or 16 flats at social rent. The accompanying viability assessment claims the scheme cannot support a policy-compliant level of affordable housing. Half of the 60 flats (30) would be three-bedroom, with 28 two-bedroom and two one-bedroom homes.
The podium of the building at the junction of Chiswick Roundabout and Gunnersbury Avenue. Picture: Ackroyd Lowrie
The design statement also shows two LED advertising panels, each 12m high, on the south-east and north-west elevations. Advertisement consent is not being sought in this application as submission will be made at a later date to the highways authority.
A visualisation of one of the advertising panels proposed for the building. Picture: Ackroyd Lowrie
The outline Construction Environmental Management Plan expects building work to take about four years, with piling to depths of up to 25m and a single-storey basement.
To comment online, use the planning pages of Hounslow Council's website to search for application reference P/2026/3073.
Hounslow normally allows 21 days for comments, but the closing date for this application is shown on the application page.
The application documents are available on the council's planning portal.
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