Forum Topic

"Revised Plan for High Street Block Ups Height to Eight Storeys"

Any comment about "Revised Plan for High Street Block Ups Height to Eight Storeys" http://www.brentfordtw8.com/default.asp?section=info&page=plballyafford002.htm ?It is a bit sad to demolish the NatWest and Post Office shops, although their frontage were proposed to be retained.Apparently, there is a kind of interest to preserve these Natwest buildings in other areas of UK:http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/15579011.Malvern_Town_Council_wins_bid_to_buy_bank_branch/https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1419445https://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwicrbWaj5HXAhXGmLQKHWWmD88QFghFMAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmy.redbridge.gov.uk%2Fmap%2Flisted-buildings-statutory%2Fstatutory-listed-building-natwest-bank-50-ilford-hill-ilford&usg=AOvVaw2HMy1cWTWVXbFbFOB5EWS9https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1393838https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1418109https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/idoxWAM/doc/Other-1504757.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=1504757&location=Volume2&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=1

Remi Chateauneu ● 2850d21 Comments

There are two paths through Waterman’s Park; one under the wall, near the road, and one along the riverside. Judging from the plans, the cycle path will take over the path close to the wall. This path does go through the playground but the plans to develop the Park, along with the marina, involved re-locating the playground.

Barry Jacques ● 2838d

Is that including the Cycling Superhighway through Watermans Park?

Philippa Bond ● 2838d

I don’t recognise much of your comment, Jennifer.“.... Waterman's Gardens are being reduced in size and raised up to smellie road height.”Where have you seen that the Gardens are being reduced in size? The only loss on the plans exhibited so far is the tarmac area next to Victoria Steps Quay, which is not used and not pleasant. Neither was there any suggestion to raise the Gardens -that would make access to the proposed marina rather difficult. “Waterman's will be a tall building next to more tall buildings and the uninteruppted riverside walk will only be accessible by walking down windy concrete corridors from the High Street. Further more these tall buildings will be destroying the historic views across the river from Kew Gardens and Kew Palace.”I also think the blocks replacing Waterman’s and Max Factor are too high but they aren’t higher than the two new blocks already there and these cannot be seen from Kew Gardens.  Even from the Richmond tow path, they will be hidden by the trees on Brentford and Lot’s Aits. The riverside walk will continue from Waterman’s Park right through to Goat Wharf and then on via Ferry Quays to MSO Boatyard - until the Ballymore development is completed. The new sections of river walk behind the two new blocks already built are very poor (compare it to the new riverside walk east of Hammersmith Bridge!) but they do follow the river.  The new buildings on the Waterman’s/Max Factor site will not obscure any more of the view of the Thames from the High Street than the existing ones do.Jennifer, I do think the quality of design of the developments taking place in Brentford are poor but let’s keep to the facts in our attempts to get them improved.

Barry Jacques ● 2847d

"....and, I believe, a place where people will want to visit."  By taxi so far as the disabled are concerned as there is little if any parking.

Jennifer Selig ● 2847d

Well I hope I'm not right.  Guy's views sound idyllic but still Waterman's Gardens are being reduced in size and raised up to smellie road height.  Waterman's will be a tall building next to more tall buildings and the uninteruppted riverside walk will only be accessible by walking down windy concrete corridors from the High Street.  Further more these tall buildings will be destroying the historic views across the river from Kew Gardens and Kew Palace.  That's progress and no doubt the wealthy residents of those riverside flats will enjoy really lovely views across to Kew.

Jennifer Selig ● 2847d

Jennifer you stick to your views. When paradise is promised I too am sceptical. I don't think you are right, I KNOW YOU ARE RIGHT!!!

Nicholas Beard ● 2848d

It sounds like paradise.  Why not extend the railway back to the high st. The there would be a link to Heathrow via Southall.

Nicholas Beard ● 2848d

Perhaps you should study the plans Jennifer, rather than making up what Brentford is to become!Of course, we don't know exactly how it will play out but we expect the Ballymore development to have more riverside cafes and restaurants to complement several which are already here. We will have a combined Lidl/M&S store on the Morrisons site and another full sized supermarket in the Ballymore development, together with small workshops and retailers. We will still have Johnson's Island with its thriving artists, canal/river living at Town Wharf, Workhouse Dock, Malthouse Dock etc (as well as the newish moorings on the canal and in Brent Creek) 3 preserved historic pubs in the town centre, various other listed buildings - amongst others, the Court, St Lawrence's Church, the building where the Cathja shop is, some old workshops behind - approx - the Post Office. If some version of the Watermans centre move is approved, an uninterrupted riverside walk from Watermans Park to at least the centre of Brentford and a brand new arts centre in the centre of the town.I have lived or worked in Brentford since 1977 and when those changes are completed (notwithstanding some issues which I share with some of the architecture and heights)we will have a far better town centre than in a generation and, I believe, a place where people will want to visit.

Guy Lambert ● 2848d

Agreed - visit Morisons maybe once a month and the car wash place  down side of Akash (washing machines  etc shop soon to be demolished).  Once a week 4 of us from Grove Park used to drive and park at Waterman's to see latest film and have cheap and cheerful curry type lunch but have deserted them in favour of hi tech and very comfortable Olympic in Barnes.  Brentford is to become a bland, concrete,  hi-rise dormitory of box like expensive flats.  What a waste of all that riverside with views across to green and leafy Kew Gardens.

Jennifer Selig ● 2848d

Brentford High Street as it currently stands is a wretched mess - and a lengthy lengthy tale of missed opportunities and extremely poor planning.  It was once a very handsome high road indeed, but not in the thirty years that I have lived there.  I rarely spend my money there, preferring to go to Chiswick, Ealing, Richmond, or even believe it or not West Ealing!!!

Emma Renton ● 2848d

Thank you Barry, at last someone who see's Brentford high st for what it is.

Graham Cooper ● 2848d

There are some copies on the internet all under £5.00. Middlesex was a big county.

Nicholas Beard ● 2849d

Thank you Nicholas, Yes, I do like buildings of ‘good’ design -although this is often a personal view, not one acquired from a knowledge of architecture. I shall try to get hold of a copy.

Barry Jacques ● 2849d

Barry I sense you like buildings. Well so do I. I expect you probably know but if you dont I can recomend a book called THE BUILDINGS OF ENGLAND by NICOLAUS PEVSNER. There is one for each county, and therein lies a problem in that MIDDLESEX no longer exits. I got my copy from the internet. There are hard back and soft back. They were Penguins but now are published in America. Brentford features in the Middx volume of course. Absorbing reading.

Nicholas Beard ● 2849d

Sorry, that should have said Nicholas, not Bernard.

Barry Jacques ● 2849d

You may be correct about a norm of 8 floors, Bernard but, in the case of Block D, it is 6 floors high at the High Street.  The slope away from the High Street allows a seventh floor to be added without increasing the roof height.  The eighth floor is in the central section, away from the High Street and is only 1 floor above the roof height at the High Street.I would add that, in my opinion, there is no case to preserve the frontage of either of the buildings currently housing the Post Office and NatWest. They offer no outstanding features worth protecting. Pushing the site line back to provide additional pavement width is far more desirable.  I would much prefer good quality modern design - although I accept this is not the case at present. I don’t understand the article’s comment about Akash. Is it staying, moving or will they have a new unit within the development?

Barry Jacques ● 2849d

Or accommodate the replacement for Morrison.

Barry Jacques ● 2849d

You are right. However when they cannot let the retail units they will convert those to accomodation.

Nicholas Beard ● 2849d

Brentford is going to be a massive high rise dormitory town.  I dont see who is going to take the retail units in this day and age, and 18 parking spaces - come on!!!!

Emma Renton ● 2849d

It is depressing that these type of classic looking buildings are going to disappear and that Brentford is going to become some sort of faceless version of Canary Wharf with looming 8-10 storey towers that will probably be considered eye sores needing to be knocked down in 20 years time. I’m all for the redevelopment just not monstering hulks looming over the Main Street of Brentford. As long as the planning officer approves it, it gets passed by the council body. There is seemingly  no way to stop this from happening or register my opinion even with probably several hundred interested voices it wouldn't count unless it has some sort legal or bureaucratic point. What type of legal argument would make a case I’m not sure, but it is a different story if I want to put in a drop curb or plan a extension to my house then any objection from a neighbour is likely to be registered against the planning and the planning changed or declined. What happened to the British value of fair play? Fair enough if I’m the only one objecting but I recall the recent Morrison’s height challenges and 3000 signatures collected didn’t make any difference in the slightest.

Warrick Chamberlain ● 2850d

We knew it would come. Eight stories will be the standard as the powers to be have no wish to stop it.

Nicholas Beard ● 2850d