Green Light for Frasers Redevelopment at The Ham
Waterside scheme include 60 affordable and social rent flats
A visualisation of the project viewed along Augustus Close. Picture: Todd
February 6, 2026
Hounslow Council has approved the latest plans to redevelop the former Frasers Timber Merchants site at The Ham in Brentford, giving the long-discussed scheme the green light after several years of revisions and objections.
The decision, made at Thursday night’s (5 February) Planning Committee meeting, allows the developer to move forward with a redesigned proposal for the riverside plot. The scheme replaces earlier plans for two buildings of six and ten storeys with a single six-storey, C-shaped block containing 60 homes, all of which will be classed as affordable.
The committee voted 8-1 in favour of the scheme with only Cllr Dan Bowring objecting due to concerns about the long term durability of the flood defences.
A previous version of the development was narrowly approved in 2024 after a chaotic committee meeting that saw a miscount, a councillor barred from voting, and strong objections from residents concerned about height, massing and the impact on the River Brent. That scheme was later withdrawn and replaced with the revised design considered this week.
The updated proposal reduces the overall height and scale of the development, responding to feedback from residents and planning officers that the earlier ten-storey tower was out of keeping with surrounding buildings. The new design also aims to create a more coherent frontage along the river and Augustus Close, while maintaining the commitment to 100% affordable housing.
The housing units will include a mix of social rent and intermediate units, with a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom flats. As with the previous scheme, the development will be car-free, with residents ineligible for on-street parking permits except for two blue-badge spaces.
A visualisation of the new proposal viewed from across the River Brent with outline of previous scheme in red. Picture: Todd
Despite the revisions, some residents and ward councillors continued to raise concerns about the building’s footprint, its proximity to the river, and the cumulative impact of new developments in the Brentford Lock area. Issues around flood risk, overshadowing and pressure on local infrastructure were also highlighted during the meeting.
However, planning officers advised that the scheme met policy requirements and that the reduction in height represented a meaningful improvement on the earlier design.
Frasers has said the redesign reflects extensive consultation with neighbours and stakeholders, including feedback gathered during public exhibitions and online sessions. The developer argues that the scheme will deliver much-needed affordable housing while regenerating a long-underused industrial site.
With planning permission now granted, the project will move into the detailed design and pre-construction phase. A start date for work on site has not yet been confirmed.
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