West King Street Renewal Project Gets Go Ahead
Plans include new look for Town Hall plus cinema and over 200 homes
CGI of new Hammersmith Town Hall and cinema on King Street
The latest proposals to build a new cinema and what H&F Council describes as 'genuinely affordable' homes in the western end of King Street have been given the go ahead.
It proposals also include plans for the transformation of Hammersmith Town Hall into a modern public building at the heart of the community, with the demolition of the unloved sixties extension.
The West King Street renewal project was approved at a meeting of the Planning and Development Control Committee on 12 February, following a series of public consultations.
The scheme was designed by leading architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, who were commissioned after the council decided to scrap previous plans.
It aims to create:
- a new four-screen cinema, with room for cafes, shops and restaurants
- 204 new homes of which 52% will be classified as genuinely affordable for local residents
- a new public rooftop bar and restaurant
- new community art and event spaces
- new office spaces for start-up businesses new corporate offices for an established business
- new public space in front of the restored Town Hall for performances and events
- new homework spaces for children and students
- inclusively designed buildings to ensure full access for disabled people
- eco-friendly buildings to minimise carbon footprint
The Planning Officer's report concluded:
The proposed development has demonstrable substantial design, heritage and
public benefits which constitute material considerations that are considered to
outweigh the harm identified and add weight to the case for granting planning
permission. The benefits identified are considered to outweigh the limited harm
arising from the proposal.
Officers have taken account of all the representations received and in overall
conclusion for the reasons detailed in this report, it is considered having regard
to the development plan as a whole and all other material considerations that
planning permission should be granted.
You can read the agenda for the meeting in full here.
H&F Council has also appointed consultancy to provide technical advisor services for the West King Street renewal project.
"We want to make Hammersmith proud by breathing new life into the western end of King Street," said councillor Stephen Cowan, leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council. "The new cinema and our new genuinely affordable homes will help create a truly exciting new neighbourhood."
Chris Jones, associate at Currie & Brown said: "Currie & Brown is looking forward to help deliver a new mixed-development that will greatly benefit the local community. We will support the Hammersmith & Fulham Council to ensure the technical requirements are well integrated into the delivery programme. We will also assist with the fit-out programme for the new-build extension of the town hall."
The proposed timetable for the transformation is as follows:
- Early 2019: planning decision made.
- Spring 2019: council moves out of the town hall and extension.
- Summer 2019: demolition work begins.
- Early 2020: construction works begins.
The plans can also be seen on the council’s website and you can view a gallery of pictures of the proposals here.
