This is running approximately a year behind our own Local Plan and the latest consultation incorporating some of the changes proposed during the first consultation in October last year. This round of consultation commenced at the end of June and closes on the 11 September. There are a number of workshops organised by OPDC and I am extremely grateful to Melanie Whitlock and Angela Clarke for sharing the workload on this task in addition to the work which they did on the Council’s Local Plan.

 

Despite objections from us, the Council and most other consultees, the OPDC Committee have continued to approve schemes in Scrubs Lane, the latest being Mitre Bridge which is the site immediately on the left after the canal bridge going north. This involves a 19 storey tower and many of the units are being promoted on the basis of ‘build for rent’. Another scheme with another tall tower is being launched next week for the Nursery Site at the top end of Scrubs Lane. No-one knows at this stage what effect the Grenfell fire will have on the construction of these towers which all involve single escape staircases.

We were concerned to learn in the Spring that the development was unlikely to proceed because of differences between the Council and the developers, King Street Developments.

This has now been confirmed and it seems the scheme is completely dead. This is very disappointing in view of the past history and the community effort (Save Our Skyline et al) to get to where we had got. We have repeatedly requested information from the Council as to how they see a new scheme proceeding and how the benefits of the previous scheme can be retained.

In the meantime we have lost our local cinema which has been completely demolished without the prospect of a replacement anytime soon and leaving a large hole opposite the Town Hall.

For several months we had reported the impending Appeal of the 2015 proposals for the site by the developer Romulus. Just before the public hearing, the Inquiry was postponed by the Inspector ‘for personal reasons’. No new date has so far been offered. In the meantime, the developers and their architects, Allies and Morrison have prepared a new proposal which although very similar in appearance to the Appeal scheme has been reduced in size to overcome some of the principal objections both from the Council and local groups.

The controversial scheme which has taken up a lot of our time this Spring has now been approved by the Council’s Planning Committee on a 4:2 vote after a long discussion. This is for the revised scheme of 22 storeys reduced from the original 28 storeys.

We were concerned that this scheme which could provide a precedent for taller buildings in the Town Centre should not be approved ahead of the final Town Centre Masterplan. Nevertheless the final scheme by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour for Eastern and Oriental Properties should be a fine building and a credit to Hammersmith.

Since the publication of the Newsletter, about 24 members attended conducted tours of the new complex on 25th April.

We were all amazed and truly impressed by the scope of the project and the progress on site towards completion by the middle of next year. They are on course to deliver theatre/TV studio spaces and a cinema with dedicated foyer and screening room, a stunning main foyer and atrium area, restaurant, café brasserie and bakery, community & rehearsal space, local events & entertainment area, plus tenant and admin offices, on time and on budget as they promised. I would suggest to any doubters as to what a great project this is for Hammersmith that they go and see for themselves.

Visits are on a strictly pre-book basis : Contact Guy Hornsby