12-14 Wellesley Ave – 2019 proposal

The Hammersmith Society is supporting our affiliate, the Brackenbury Residents Association and the local action group in objecting to the development proposed for the former Aston Martin garage at 12-14 Wellesley Avenue.

The application scheme proposes a 3-storey building, significantly higher than the street building line, with 1,800 square metres of office space for an estimated 150 employees, in a street with a residential population of around 80.  We reported that an earlier application for a larger scheme was refused planning consent and lost a subsequent appeal – refer to our related stories with more coverage in last winter’s newsletter.  The current, slightly reduced scheme was again refused consent earlier this year.

Former Nicholas Mee garage, Wellesley Ave

The applicant is appealing against the refusal, and the local residents group is 🔗inviting support for their petition against the development.

The Council is struggling to finance the upkeep of its school estate, a portfolio which includes over forty primary schools.  Limited funds have been available since the government Building Schools for the Future programme was terminated in 2010, and in March last year the Council introduced a “Community Schools Programme”, proposing to finance the improvement works by the building of affordable housing on school grounds. The programme starts with Flora Gardens and Avonmore Primary Schools.

Flora Gardens School Site

We are concerned at the direction of this policy: the unquestionable priority of good public education facilities does not justify the loss of public open space.

Public open space is sacred, it is a rare and precious commodity, and the acceptance of a practice which permanently removes the open space to alleviate a temporary financial shortfall is a mistake: it erodes the quality of our urban surroundings to the detriment of the public realm, and removes potential sites for future social facilities such as youth clubs and provision for the elderly, but also removes spare capacity essential to accommodate the likely increase in space requirements arising from the current review of school standards. 

Members of the Committee visited our 30th Annual Award Nominations on Sunday 19th May and shortlisted them. They’re all shown on the nominations page in their categories, with a selection here.

If you would like to comment on them, or make suggestions for winners, please use the comment form on the above page, or on Instagram.

Imperial West residential tower

Paintbox Studios and Coffeeology

Dalling Road, St David’s Day 2019

Paradise gardens

st-augustines-church interior

Sovereign Court South

Maison Samadi

Planters under flyover

White City Campus: Molecular Sciences building

Savoy Circus: Chapter student accommodation

Saffron – refurbished

Hammersmith Grove Parklets – West

Plants-not-pollution under flyover

Award winners will be announced at the AGM at Olympia on 12th June. 

Members, guests, and friends will be warmly welcomed.

Former garage, Wellesley Ave (photo:yell.com)

Developers appealed against the decision of the Council to refuse permission for the development of substantial office accommodation on the site of the former Aston Martin garage. Local residents had objected to the proposals on a wide number of grounds. They also regret the passing of the garage which was generally a well mannered and friendly neighbour.

The appeal was dismissed after careful consideration by the Inspector. The major reasons given were:

•  The overbearing impact of the proposals on the rear gardens in Wellesley Avenue and Dorville Crescent and loss of privacy at 29 Dorville Crescent.
• Living conditions at the proposed maisonette at 14 Wellesley Avenue on account of the refuse area being directly below the bedroom window.
• The height and mass of the proposed office building and dominance of the second floor would mean a ‘failure to integrate’ with the intimate residential nature of the street, it would be visually obtrusive and harmful to the character and appearance of the conservation area.
• Inadequate provision for Sustainable Drainage Systems.

Official Appeal Decision

This site (between Hammersmith Library and the Broadway) is a 1960s office building, and developers are proposing to re-clad it and remodel the interior as a Premier Inn hotel. Members of the Committee attended an exhibition of plans. 

The scheme does not involve redevelopment from the ground up so offers limited scope for a major improvement to the street scene, however we consider that the proposals are particularly bland and an opportunity has been missed to make a positive contribution to Shepherds Bush Road. We will be asking for improvements to the design.  The developer’s illustration is shown above.