Forum Topic

The future of Morrisons Brentford?

I am sure I am not alone in my concern about the future of Morrisons. I speak for family and friends when I say there has been no information from the leaders of Hounslow council about plans that will seriously affect the life of Brentford people.1. We need to know if Museum of London archaeologists know of the proposed scheme, because Morrisons' car park is sitting on a Roman site.2. Where will we be able to do our food shopping if Morrisons closes, (over and above the small cornershops which are important too)? Brentford has a diverse and sizeable population - where are we supposed to shop if and when Morrisons closes?3. Is the Morrisons site - which appears to have already been bought by a developer (Property Week, Sept 2015) - going to be developed for social housing?4. What is the timeline on this? And the consultation process?Angela, Margaret, Deborah

Angela Burton ● 3785d4 Comments

The parking is vital to the viability of Morrisons and the rest of the shops in the vicinity. Many people use both and the cafes when doing the shop and this is what really keeps Brentford's small shops just about alive.It will otherwise not be a profitable venture for any supermarket operator of substance.Take the car park away and the whole thing will collapse killing off other shops in the process.Best solution to me is to have a car park of the same size either above or below the store of the same size or slightly larger. But we also have to be conscious of the affect a large development will have on daylight to both the School and the park nearby.  It already suffers at the south eastern end from long periods of shade. Open spaces need good light when in constant public use.

Raymond Havelock ● 3784d

With adequate parking we hope.

Keith Iddon ● 3784d

Angela, Margaret, DeborahYou are dead right that the freehold of the Morrisons site has been bought by an outfit called Essential Living whose business is about developing flats for private rental (http://www.essentialliving.uk.com/)It's a fair bet that they will want at some stage to develop the Morrisons site but if there are any current 'plans' they have not been shared with the council.The recently approved local plan says this site should be 75% retail and your local councillors will be determined to make sure the plan is adhered to, with Morrisons or something equivalent - a medium/large size supermarket - included in any development.There is no known timeline, but a large development would involve lengthy planning discussions and at least one consultation period before anything happens.I don't know about the Roman site but others have commented.

Guy Lambert ● 3784d

The site was extensivly excavated in the 1970's and the road was found with various post holes around it. I presume MOLAS will do a watching brief unless they dfeel that the site needs a more modern approach.The company on its website, Essentil Living, does talk about how they offer approx 25% affordable housing within the schemes they have planning consent for.

Neil Chippendale ● 3785d