A change of use of a former convent in Chiswick Lane into flats has raised concerns among residents

The former home of the Comboni Missionary Sisters

Traffic, noise and pollution as well as a significant increase in the capacity of people living on site are a few of the issues highlighted

The proposal to convert the Grade II-Listed Comboni Convent at 2 Chiswick Lane into eight flats and three HMOs has caused Cranbrook Road locals, living at the rear of the site, as well as those in nearby Verona Court, to question whether the application has been consulted upon properly.

Lack of consultation?

The planning application (P/2026/2079), which was validated on 29 July, appeared on the London Borough of Hounslow website during the summer holidays but was not – according to one resident – searchable using a postcode.

“I posted the proposal on our WhatsApp Group for Cranbrook Road but only the direct neighbours knew anything about it,” she said.

For a Grade II Listed building, the London Borough of Hounslow has a statutory obligation to publicise its change of use for a minimum of 21 days. But there has been concern that it hasn’t done enough for 2 Chiswick Lane: as of the 18 August, no statutory physical planning notifications or site notices had been displayed on or around the Comboni Centre.

Questions over the lack of consultation with the wider Chiswick community led one resident to request that the council formally extend the consultation window with a valid site notice erected. As a result, an extension to 6 September was granted and it remained opened to comment for a further period.

Cranbrook Road is at the rear of the former convent

Increase in traffic and pollution

Amongst residents that The Chiswick Calendar spoke to majors concerns were traffic, noise and pollution.

Ekaterina, from Cranbrook Road said:

“Traffic is a real concern. Our narrow one-way street already suffers from rat-running, particularly since the changes to the traffic lights at the Chiswick High Road/Chiswick Lane junction following the introduction of the cycle lane.

“It is also now one of the few residential streets in the immediate area that remains open to through-traffic, while most of the surrounding streets are either cul-de-sacs or have restrictions in place.”

Vehicle overspill

In addition to fears that construction vehicles accessing the Comboni Convent could utilise a back entrance, there is now also the prospect of the Weltje Road Emergency Traffic Order (ETO) putting even more pressure on Chiswick Lane and, as a result, Cranbrook Road.

Councillor Linden Grigg, who recently launched a petition against Hammersmith and Fulham’s ‘inconsiderate’ plan to close Weltje Road, is sympathetic to his constituents’ traffic concerns.

“The displacement of up to 2,500 vehicles down Chiswick Lane will have a tangible and negative impact on residents’ lives,” said Cllr Grigg.

The Cranbrook Road residents say that the closure of Weltje Road and other important transport issues have not been comprehensively assessed in this change of use.

READ MORE: Weltje Road traffic restrictions to begin in October.

Loss of a community asset

In addition, one resident goes as far to say that P/2026/2079 is based on a false premise. The former convent is described as an ‘existing large-scale House in Multiple Occupation’ but locals say it was never a HMO.

Given that the primary use of part of the premises was as a centre where pastoral and spiritual activities were regularly held, opponents to the application believe that the former convent falls into the F1 planning category, and not a large HMO (C4). The current proposal would, therefore, result in the significant loss of a valuable community asset.

Nick, another resident in Cranbrook Road, said:

“The Council’s own policy requires important safeguards before that [community] use can be lost, including a period of vacancy and marketing. The sisters only left in April 2026 and no marketing has been carried out.”

Profits over people

Another Cranbrook Road resident, Johan, who lives adjacent to the property, has a different perspective that goes beyond traffic and pollution concerns, and has hired – at his own personal cost – a property consultant to submit a formal objection to planning officer Jacky Leung.

He said:

“This proposal represents a material change to the type of occupant and it’s a nightmare for us – given we’ve got young children – how exposed we are. The change of use has clearly been designed to maximise capacity and profits.”

“In the past, we’ve had super quiet, predictable neighbours and they could soon be replaced by unrelated tenants who don’t belong to a single collective.”

A plan of the site shows access points in Cranbrook Road and Chiswick Lane

Clarity over access

Another resident of Cranbrook Road, looking directly over the back of the site, told us there is no assurance within the planning application that the back gate will not be used for access.

She still recalls the building of Verona Court in the grounds of the convent and the suffering it caused.

“The contractor was allowed to apply for a permit to make an opening in the garden wall and then took all their materials through Cranbrook Road.” She fears – given the lack of clarity in this application – that this could easily happen again.

A fair hearing is needed

Residents requested a further extension, until 23 September, to allow more people to comment and the application was still open for comment as of that morning on the planning portal.

In their submissions to councillors, residents have also asked that the decision over the Comboni Convent be made by planning committee, but under new legislation recently approved at a Full Council meeting, it is likely to be given to a single officer to decide.