New storage facility on Gunnersbury Avenue given the green light

Image: 250 Gunnersbury Avenue; Google Streetview

‘Art-deco inspired’ building could be up to ten storeys

A new self-storage facility on the North Circular Road has been approved by Hounslow Council’s Planning Committee.

The building, at 250 Gunnersbury Avenue (North Circular Road), W4 5QB, will comprise a self-storage space and flexible office/light industrial space, with associated parking, at the Power Road site near Chiswick Roundabout, which is designated as an area for light industrial development.

The building site is currently vacant and had previously been approved for an eight-storey office building which failed to materialise. The current three-storey office block will be pulled down and replaced with a new building of up to ten storeys, with a maximum height of 29.871 metres.

According to the developer, the proposed building is ‘art-deco inspired’, with curved windows on the north-west elevation and a brick base.

Planned building is ‘inappropriate size and scale’

The Council received three objections, including one from the West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society. The objections were that it would be: ‘another large self-storage building which dominates the surrounding buildings,’ which would have ‘a negative impact on surrounding conservation areas and heritage assets in the area.’

It ‘dwarfs the neighbouring building,’ is ‘inappropriate size and scale,’ and ‘would increase cars in the area past safe levels of traffic capacity,’ increasing noise and air pollution in conflict with the Council’s environmental policies.

The West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society were unimpressed by the architect’s claims of art-deco inspiration:

‘We are not convinced that the present design sufficiently reflects the Art Deco influence found in other local buildings and request that this aspect be addressed much more vigorously. In addition to design features, the quality of the materials to be used will be critical to achieving a satisfactory development.’

Developers are often required to provide funding for local projects as a condition of their development progressing, known as ‘Section 106’ funding. The West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society have requested that funding be provided for landscaping of Power Road at its junction with Gunnersbury Avenue.

‘We propose that the Council and TfL work together on a scheme to enhance this prominent corner and improve the pedestrian experience.’

The residents’ association also wants the Council to limit the number and size of self-storage facilities that can be built in an area, since a large Shurgard self-storage facility has only recently opened nearby, and they question the value of this kind of development in terms of job creation.

Better than what’s there currently, which is ‘a massive eyesore’

One representation in support argued:

‘Site is a massive eyesore and the new development would be a massive improvement … Wouldn’t have a negative impact on commercial area or nearby residential uses … Would encourage business investment in the area.’

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