Forum Topic

Boston Manor House Planning Application

Why would you put a cafe in Boston Manor House to compete against the Friends of Boston Manor Cafe in the park just 142 metres away?Planning application just released 9/11/17  P/2017/4688.We agree that it is about time that the restoration of the house took place but surely they could find something else to generate money.  After-all our money goes back into the park - theirs won't and neither would it go back into the house.  Will it be Costa Coffee next?  Please read the application and register your own response before the end of the month.

Linda Massey ● 3001d19 Comments

"It's under the reference P/2017/4688 - I just accessed it via the LBH planning portal without difficulty."Yes, I am perfectly aware of how to access the planning website and happen to do so quite often - BUT try as I might but for the last few days I have been unable to.

Vanessa Smith ● 2998d

People want cafes like that, but will regret it. Go to any town and they are all the same shop wise. Also cafe wise and we dont want that. Do we really want a Costa in a Jacobean House? I dont see that happening in Osterly House for example.

Nicholas Beard ● 2998d

To want the gates replaced is quite a reasonable expectation,Graham, as is wanting a say on how the publicly funded park is used. Calling people silly names diminishes your argument imo.Public areas like parks are there for a very good reason and are not fair game for profit making developments, or do you think that they are? I wonder if you would be happy with one of those cafes that looks like every other cafe anywhere else, and has no character to it or any individuality.

Keith Iddon ● 2998d

Couldnt disagree more with the sentiment of this threadSeems to be that the plans will improve the building and provide the community with improved facilitiesCurrently the building lays fallow with the most important recent news being some crockery was stolen from the placeThe current cafe is grotty and uninviting. I never ever use it (and i live less than 200m from it). I would use a nice coffee shop in the house and I could see the local students & workers would benefitWish this site was less negative about every single development posted on it.I also support the party and guess what I don't care about the gates.  Sorry guys I feel you has misread local sentiment about this park and are out of step with what the local community want. NIMBYs hush up for a while

Graham Cooper ● 2998d

It's under the reference P/2017/4688 - I just accessed it via the LBH planning portal without difficulty.The first document 'Design and Access Statement' gives an overview of what is proposed.Currently the house is on the 'Heritage at Risk Register' and the proposals are connected with a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for saving and improving access to this Grade 1 listed building. The design work has been financed by an initial tranche of funding from the HLF.The park at Boston Manor is well used but the house is rather neglected and large parts are inaccessible - the lift proposal is to help with this. Apparently there are less than 1000 visits a year currently which is a bit sad.There is a long letter from Historic England reproduced in this document which concludes: "Thank you for involving us at the pre-application stage. We are broadly content with your proposals, but suggest that you address the issues outlined above before any statutory approval is sought."The issues are 1)external treatment of the lift shaft where it is visible at roof level - should be in 'traditional' material to match existing 2)Relocate some C17 panelling which must be removed to allow access to the lift 3)Care with furniture used in the proposed cafe 4)ensure services for the studio/office area are planned to not detract from the main house 5)provide copy of structural engineer's view of the adequacy of the staircase.Very important that the work of Linda and the Friends is respected. I'm sure they are enthusiastic about this fantastic building becoming Brentford's fourth museum and attracting the attention it deserves but they should be regarded as a key stakeholder in any changes.

Guy Lambert ● 2999d

Emma - if you put the planning application no P/2017/4688 in the list of applications it will show you the details.  I also like to know what the relevant objections should be.  Can anyone advise please?

Pat Kingham ● 2999d

http://planning.hounslow.gov.uk/planning_user_accept.aspx?cookieCheck=trueThis is the link - however, I have been unable to get into it at all!

Vanessa Smith ● 2999d

Can someone post a link to the planning application please and how can i strongly oppose.  Is this in Brentford or Ealing, if Brentford i know what to do, but not if in Ealing.  I just cant believe all the duplicity and subterfuge going on around Boston Manor Park at the moment.  Most importantly the total disregard for all the amazing work Linda Massey has done over the past decade plus to bring Boston Manor Park back from a pretty bad place

Emma Renton ● 2999d

A lift shaft! Business units! Moving trees! Flats changing use! Where will the people using these units park? Where the trees have been moved away from. I bet some trees will die. Looks like an office complex under disguise to me. How long will it be before an application for a very sympathetic extension turns up? There are people around who went to school in this house and danced around the maypole. My how things have changed in those intervening years.

Nicholas Beard ● 2999d

Will English Heritage be involved taking into consideration the history of this building?  The planning application mentions Listed Building Consent but this is a historic building and surely merits more consideration than that.

Pat Kingham ● 3000d

See article on front page re Borough Parks

Philippa Bond ● 3000d

I think who ever is behind this will get what they want. If you are sincere and believe in something you are nuisance. Gates still not repaired, festival going ahead, see a pattern?

Nicholas Beard ● 3000d

No, speaking for myself I had no notification.Thanks for alerting - will take a look.

Guy Lambert ● 3000d

They were certainly aware of the house consultation but I am not sure if they received the notification (that was not sent to me) from planning.  I will be in contact with them soon.  Brentford Community Council have just picked it up from this forum so will review the plans which is good.

Linda Massey ● 3000d

I assume our local Councillors are aware of this application. Any idea of their views?

Pat Kingham ● 3000d

Linda - I think this is outrageous and I have objected online. I have also posted this on FB Northfields and Brentford Friends pages to get others to comment too.  We're right behind you xx

Natasha Manganaro ● 3001d

Anything you can do I can do better!?  Looks like another lack of engagement with residents.Have the gates been mended yet?

Philippa Bond ● 3001d

They did a house consultation only a few weeks ago, we only just got our response in - our view clearly did not count as this application was obviously already in the system.

Linda Massey ● 3001d

Is this as a result of a consultation about 2 years ago looking into possible uses for the park?  If that is the case they are probably behind the music event too. What a stupid idea and I shall certainly oppose it and hope many more residents do so as well.

Pat Kingham ● 3001d