Forum Topic

Re: Development of Brentford High St

I noticed on this website that the proposed redevelopment will knock out NatWest the Post Office and Akash shop this is terrible, a loss of another Post Office and bank will mean further inconvenience to a whole lot of people and for what, more money for HBC

Barbara Dudley ● 3048d20 Comments

I agree Jennifer, well put. What is left of Brentford itself will soon only be visable by walking down souless canyons between one hi-rise concrete block and the next.  I don't think that is progress either. Does Hounslow use the same town planners as Wandsworth I wonder?

Rachele Aldworth ● 3034d

"To see the Ballymore and Police Station developments completed in the next couple of years would be amazing and I wish people would get behind it!"  What in their planned high rise state?? All at the expense of completely destroying the centuries old verdant green views across the river from the Kew Gardens and Kew Palace World Heritage Site?  People need to be able to see the open skies, the trees and the river from the High Street - they can at the moment but soon that will all vanish behind concrete.  The river will only be visable by walking down the souless canyons between one hi-rise concrete block and the next.  Is that progress?

Jennifer Selig ● 3034d

The idea of shopping centre is soooooo outdated as to almost unbelievable these days.  You either go to a nice area like Richmond, Chiswick or even Northfields Avenue, or to Westfields or big department store in Oxford Street.  Or just shop on line.

Emma Renton ● 3035d

Problem is in the last 3 years alone there has been a seismic change in retail.Now even John Lewis state that they have commissioned their last store and that in itself may be a mistake.Cafes and Coffee shops and average restaurants are almost at saturation point and many are failing. Some of the really good shops in Northfields avenue are failing and closing.  Small independents stand no chance as the rents are too high.The Bank and Post Office will not remain as they won't be able to have a freehold and the rents that are being charged by post developers agents are way too high to make a viable operation.Look how few retail units in new developments exist at the moment. Very few.And look how few survive more than a few years. Only the corporate chains manage and that's because they can write off loss making small stores as loss leaders in the hope that they have customer loyalty for the weekly or bi weekly shop at a big store. They are also far more expensive.As for affordable homes. You need to earn in excess of £48,000 per annum post tax to be able to meet the criteria.  I don't earn that now and thats with 2 degrees and a masters and a ream of professional qualifications and 30 years experience.Where are the small business units? Where are the infrastructure spaces for businesses that need to operate vehicles? 90% of businesses that employ are going to be service businesses. Where is the space for them?It's so outdated the whole thing needs a complete rethink.

Raymond Havelock ● 3035d

I am starting to believe that the 'new' Brentford High Street project wont actually be built in my life time.  lol

Emma Renton ● 3035d

"Do we have any idea when work might commence and perhaps more importantly when it might conclude?"The latest I have heard is that, if the public enquiry into the CPOs allows them to go ahead, works on site are likely to commence mid to late 2018 (this of course depends how long it takes for a legal decision - they often seem to take several months). There are two phases to the Ballymore scheme but the plan is (or was) to start phase two just a few months after phase one. 'Block D' will be a council development - does not yet have planning permission but likely to be built on a similar timescale. I believe the expectation is that build will take 2-3 years

Guy Lambert ● 3038d

We have waited a long time for a green light. Do we have any idea when work might commence and perhaps more importantly when it might conclude?

Brian Driver ● 3038d

I hope that this development gets the green light. I can't stand seeing the derelict buildings around here. I understand that some businesses will be affected but as Guy says they can always move to other vacant areas of which there are lots! To see the Ballymore and Police Station developments completed in the next couple of years would be amazing and I wish people would get behind it!

Nick Fichte ● 3045d

After applying for a Hounslow shared housing scheme on a studio flat to see if I could help a relative, I found out that  Affordable Housing means that you have to earn a minimum of £40,000 a year, End of Story

Bernard Allen ● 3045d

First of all can you - anyone - explain 'affordable' housing. Second - I was elected to Hounslow council in 1986 and we were talking about development of 'land south of the High St.' for years and years on the planning committee, nothing changes it seems.

Vanessa Smith ● 3045d

Ok I have some information. Because this is essentially a housing development the commercial units will be managed by the housing team. Approach has yet to be finalised but 'It may well be that we ... may best support the council’s employment and community objectives by providing the kind of start-up/innovative/right facilities that you refer to, rather than to pursue a pure rent max ambition.'

Guy Lambert ● 3045d

Like I said - enquiring. I was guessing Lampton

Guy Lambert ● 3046d

GuyWhy  Lampton 360? No mandate for commercial property to my knowledge Surely they'll form part of the LBH property portfolio.My recollection was that there was some kind if undertaking given at planning where an initial discount would be given on this site

John Todd ● 3046d

Good question - I guess so, though perhaps via Lampton 360. I assume they will default to commercial rents but it would be nice to see some flexibility to encourage local startups or whatever.I'll enquire.

Guy Lambert ● 3046d

Guy- Will the Council be responsible for the setting of the rents for the commercial units in Block D?

James Homer ● 3046d

You assume wrong. My father was a small/medium businessman and I have worked in business all my life until a few years ago.Of course I don't know who will take the units but I do know Ballymore's ambition is to attract independents, like the vast majority of other restaurants in Brentford (even the pizza places)!Whether Akash will continue, I don't know. There will be a number of smaller units in the Ballymore development and the Morrisons redevelopment and of course there are already empty shops in Brentford. It's tough to make a living on the high street - always has been, and it's not going to get easier. Akash is a very rare small electrical retailer to survive.You are very negative about Brentford's future. I take the opposite view: I can't wait for the wasteland south of the High Street to be renovated and for that stretch of the canal/river Brent to be embraced into the town.

Guy Lambert ● 3046d

Guy - What planet do you live on. When a company like Ballymore are involved, they will charge huge fees and rent to have a shop there. There is no way that a little business like Akash can afford that type of rent and come back. I assume you have no business experience. Why not be honest and say these so called new restaurants who are interested are just big chains, that will leave no life in Brentford anymore. Let me guess, there will be a pret, eat, Pizza chain, oh and three coffee shops....lol....It does look like that the council may have done a deal with Ballymore, to allow them to do what they want, but at least just tell the locals, so we can just move on......

Raki Smith ● 3046d

Well, there are some new restaurants (I could easily list half a dozen) but the town centre redevelopment hasn't happened yet and there's very little in the way of shops. The public enquiry into the compulsory purchases south of the High Street starts on Tuesday and if that goes successfully the Ballymore (and block D) developments can commence next year. This will open the High Street up to the River Brent/canal and provide new retail and workshop space including - we hope - some riverside restaurants/cafes. Plus we will be able to walk on the riverside all the way from Watermans Park to Brentford bridge, bringing the river and canal back into the town - as the Brentford Lock and other developments already have to some extent.I lived in Chiswick for 25 years before moving here about 8 years ago, though I worked in Brentford on and off since the late 70s. To be honest, the town centre has never been up to much - the town's charm is in its mix of people and neighbourhoods - but in a few years it should be a whole lot better (fingers crossed),Oh, and I love it here.

Guy Lambert ● 3047d

While I don't dispute that there is a need for affordable rented homes I feel that there must be a balance. I have lived in Brentford for 25 years, I loved it from the moment I saw it. However the 'town planning' that has taken place has created what looks and feels like one big housing estate, with no amenities. Coming into Brentford from the A4 is like like travelling down a corridor and the whole of the town from the river to the A4 is quite claustrophobic due to the quality and quantity of new build housing. When the building on the river first started residents were promised a whole new world of restaurants, shops etc. None of this has materialised. Brentford is great if you want a fake tan, false nails or to place a bet. I struggle to see why anyone would want to move here, I am not sure I would now and feel very sad about that.

Rachele Aldworth ● 3047d

For what? 96 badly needed affordable rented homes including 43 3 or 4 bed units, even more desperately needed.If Natwest, the Post Office and Akash want to continue there will be new retail units in that block and elsewhere in Brentford High Street (or some existing empty ones)

Guy Lambert ● 3048d