High rise development beside Hogarth roundabout gets OK from Mayor of London

Visualisation of scheme viewed from Hogarth Roundabout; CGI Simpson Haugh Architects

Mayor of London’s office happy to let LB Hounslow decide on 1 Burlington Lane

The Mayor of London’s office will not get involved in the decision to build a tall mixed used development of office space and flats at 1 Burlington Lane, beside Hogarth roundabout.

Local residents had hoped the Mayor’s office would intervene in the planning application, which was passed by Hounslow Council’s planning committee in August.

READ ALSO: Hogarth roundabout development gets go ahead

The plan to build a complex which will be part six storeys and part ten storeys high with 132 self contained flats was referred to the Mayor’s office for consideration, but they have now told the Council the development ‘does not raise any strategic concerns’.

The design and architecture of the building is considered acceptable and the harm to nearby heritage assets, Hogarth’s house and Chiswick House, is deemed to be ‘less than substantial’.

What harm the development would do would be outweighed by the public benefit of providing homes, says the Mayor’s office.

The development will offer 10.5% affordable housing – seven social rent and six shared ownership units.

Illustration showing the view of the new development from across the river, behind St Nicholas Church, credit: Hounslow Council

Residents of Chiswick Mall and Old Chiswick objected to the development because it would dwarf the Conservation area beside the river and spoil the views from the riverside.

Both Richmond and Hammersmith & Fulham councils supported the Old Chiswick Protection Society’s objections, as did Historic England and the MP for Hammersmith & Chiswick, Andy Slaughter.

One of the picturesque lanes of Old Chiswick which will now be overshadowed by the new highrise block; Photograph Bridget Osborne

The Mayor’s office has now written to Hounslow Council saying ‘the Mayor is content for the Council to determine the case itself, subject to any action that the Secretary of State may take’.

Andy Slaughter objected on the grounds that the number of affordable homes fell well below the 50% target on both the Local Plan and the London Plan, and on the grounds of concerns about the mass and bulk of the development.

Over 600 letters of response were received, only one of which was in support of the proposals.

The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham objected on the grounds of the impact on local transport. The developer has amended the original plans to reduce the amount of car parking provision, removing the car stackers.

The report by the Mayor’s office concludes:

‘There are no sound planning reasons for the Mayor to intervene’.

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