Walkabout site proposal, Shepherds Bush

Following on from my previous brief report (7 November 2015), some of your Committee (with Committee Members from the Hammersmith and Fulham Historic Buildings Group) have attended two consultation meetings with the management of the Dorsett Hotel and their consultants who are designing the new scheme for this building which sits between the hotel and the O2 Empire Theatre.

We are cautiously optimistic from what we have seen seen so far : In place of the much disliked 16 storey tower we are being offered a modest building about the height of the adjoining buildings and which is not out to compete with them. The major purpose is still to provide additional accommodation for the hotel, which is operating very successfully, in the form of about 52 furnished short stay apartments. The good news for the community is that not only will the existing east, west and south elevations be retained, but a small Arts Cinema is proposed in a new basement. This will be a Curzon/Everyman type operation and the Dorsett team are in discussion with potential operators.

Public Consultation on the proposals is due to be announced by the end of January.