Birchgrove announce start date to demolish Chiswick police station

The empty police station in Chiswick High Road

“It will be a long two years, but worth it in the end”

The developer who bought the former police station building in Chiswick is about to start work on knocking it down and redeveloping the site. Their construction firm, Kori Construction, signed the contract to do the work last week.

Residents of Linden Gardens have received notification from Birchgrove that work will begin on 1 September. For the first few weeks the construction team will be establishing the site set up, putting up site hoardings and preparing for major clearance works.

Computer generated image of the planned Birchgrove development from the west

Birchgrove is building rental apartments for elderly people there. Initially they said they were hoping to start work in May 2025, but negotiations with Hounslow Council over the amount of ‘Section 106’ money they would pay towards local infrastructure projects took longer than expected.

They have also faced a sharp rise in costs, with building cost inflation as high as 25% in the past few years.

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Last year they announced they expected to have spades in the ground by February of this year.

“It doesn’t help when Trump starts a war”, Honor Barrett told The Chiswick Calendar, pushing up construction costs further.

The building was vacated by the police in 2021.

Old Market Place has become the venue for Sunday markets

Now 1 September seems like a firm date, as Birchgrove say they have everything in place, the Linden Gardens Residents Association have been informed, and a Meet the Developer and Contractor forum for locals is planned for early September between Birchgrove, the residents’ association, and the construction team, when they will lay out their schedule and answer any questions.

They don’t expect to need to take more than  eight parking spaces our of commission while they carry out the work, although the Council may require more.

“It will be a long two years”, Honor told us. “There will be considerable disruption for residents but it will be worth it in the end”.

Birchgrove specialises in residential apartments for older people. They have just finished a development at Hampton Court, one of several in Surrey, one in Kent and one in Mill Hill.

Computer generated image of the Birchgrove development from the west

Locals unhappy about the proposed name for the new development

One person has written to The Chiswick Calendar with concerns about the impact of the demolition on the immediate neighbourhood.

“Of more immediate concern is the proposed name of the new building” says residents association chair Roula Konzotis.

The name put forward is ‘ Watch House’.

“Dreadful name”, Roula told The Chiswick Calendar. “Somewhat sinister given its past and future use and completely ignores the local context. Residents are writing in with objections”.

One wrote:

‘I consider ‘Watch House’ to be an inappropriate name for this building. It conjures up images of surveillance and suspicion and an uncomfortable reflection of its police station history. I believe the name should reflect the local context and have links with relevant local history’.

They suggest ‘Linden House’, given that a building with this name sat on the corner of the site ‘and the ‘Linden’ in Linden Gardens reflects its context and its significant local history’.

Linden House was a large 18th century private residence that occupied the south side of this part of Chiswick High Road and is shown on the 1865 survey map.

Before the police station was built (c 1967), ‘the site appears to have still been a ‘market’, with a flamboyant arched entrance facade’, they add, suggesting: ‘another option might be ‘Market House’, which again reflects its earlier use and would also acknowledge the popular Sunday markets, currently held in the parking area running along the south side of the High Road’.

Another objector writes that:

‘ ‘Watch House’ ‘evokes ideas of surveillance, authority and institutional control.

‘Those associations may have been appropriate for the building’s previous function, but they are not qualities one imagines should be associated with a residential community. In my opinion a successful place name should help mark the transition from the former institution to a welcoming place to live’.

They agree Linden House, or Market House could be considered.

Comments on the name, objections and  suggestions have to be sent to Sarah Filby, director of strategy, performance and commissioning by 7 August.

E: SNN@hounslow.gov.uk