Forum Topic

RBS / NatWest

NatWest branch in Brentford set to close:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42192641

Paul Scullion ● 2815d12 Comments

MarkLBH have built 310 to dateThey are currently sitting on £30m right to buy receipts and other funding facilities that should have been used to increase this number.The in-house Lampton property entity  hasn't yet  laid a brick and is materially behind with its promise of additional properties I'm afraid. Cllr Curran confirmed this at Council some months ago.

John Todd ● 2805d

I voted against it because I had concerns about details of design. I am strongly in favour of the principle, but believed there was time to improve the design and resubmit. You were there, John, I think, and my concerns were quite clear!

Guy Lambert ● 2805d

I'll have to research that, Nick. The answer will be 'not many'. I believe we will beat our manifesto commitment for building council houses but that was only about 400 across the borough - all that was realistically achievable against current government policies.There is a long lag between what goes through planning and what gets built, though council projects move faster than private sector ones, I think.

Guy Lambert ● 2805d

Guy says'I don't know what's 'spurious' about the 90+ council flats that will be built on the site that includes Natwest and the Post Office. That'll be 90 desperate families off our housing list.'He doesn't  though  explain why he voted against this development at the LBH Planning CommitteeJohn

John Todd ● 2805d

Guy, it’s obviously good news that, as you say, 90 “council flats” are being built in Brentford and brilliant that desperate families will be off your list.Trying to put this in context and as a member of the council Planning Committee you will be able to answer these questions:How many “council flats have been built in Brentford in the last 3 years versus “private flats”?How many are planned in the next 3 years versus “private flats”?We can probably pick-up on the Morrison’s development (or lack of) on another thread

Nick Kilby ● 2806d

No, no such indication about M&S. Actually the Grauniad's Nils Pratley says of the recent M&S announcement "Chief executive Steve Rowe is merely accelerating the store closure programme and making the expansion of Simply Food simply slower." The store closures are not Simply Food but clothing/homewares stores. M&S's analysis is that people are short of money and resisting the premium prices at M&S and you might think that teaming up with Lidl might hit something of a sweet spot for them (would for me too - cheap carrots and premium ready meals etc). But I have no inside information: I'm not sure that the proposed Morrisons redevelopment has yet got past the Mayor and the airwaves are rather silent.As for the BFC development, any 'sheer developers speculative profit' will be ploughed back into social and/or affordable housing on what is known as the Duffy site on the other side of Lionel Road South. This was part of the original planning consent and remains so.There is no 'glut of undersized homes': if there was not healthy demand for one and 2 BR flats the developers would not build them - they are after 'sheer developers speculative profit' which is only available via people buying what they build.

Guy Lambert ● 2808d

From the BFC website:"The majority of homes in this first phase will be available to rent rather than buy, making it more affordable for people in the local area. There will also be more smaller homes than previously planned to meet the changing housing demands within the dynamic local housing market."Matthew Townend, Managing Director at Be Living Ltd, said: “Securing Hounslow Council’s support for the planning amendments takes us a step closer to delivering the Brentford Community Stadium development. This project will deliver much needed new housing, including many new homes to rent as well as buy in this first phase of the development, and help create a vibrant new community that acts as a catalyst for regeneration in the area.”Dynamic Housing Market. That refers to sheer developers speculative profit.There is already a glut of undersized homes and this simply adds to it.Same with most being rental. That does not make for a long term cohesive society, and nor does it make for affordability when management fees are factored in.Also contradicts the new Mayors of Londons Plan which already at least identifies the shortage of proper family homes although also contradicts itself by advocating overdensification.No wonder the wrong homes are being built.As for losing another bank and a core supermarket and only a rumour of the Post Office moving. Hardly a signal of regeneration is it?Haver you Guy had any indication, that Marks & Spencer are to pull out of the Morrisons development ? It seems to be indicated in M&S's annual report that no more Simply M&S are to be opened and leases on others not to be renewed.

Raymond Havelock ● 2808d

"I don't know what's 'spurious' about the 90+ council flats that will be built on the site that includes Natwest and the Post Office. That'll be 90 desperate families off our housing list."Mmmm,shame your colleagues did not think the same when surrendering yet again to developers at last nights planning committee when waving through the amended Brentford Stadium plans

Paul Fisher ● 2808d

We don't know yet about the Compulsory Purchase Orders. There is indeed a Barclays branch in Brentford and I have heard that the Post Office is relocating to the North side of the High St.I don't know what's 'spurious' about the 90+ council flats that will be built on the site that includes Natwest and the Post Office. That'll be 90 desperate families off our housing list.

Guy Lambert ● 2809d

Isnt there a Barclays opposite the soon to be closed NatWest building?  I will be sad to see the rather handsome NatWest building demolished though

Emma Renton ● 2809d

Did the compulsory purchase orders get approved?

James Homer ● 2811d

My branch for around 30 years where I moved my account after they closed Chiswick Roundabout branch which was after they closed Gunnersbury branch. Shall have to go to Chiswick now, which is hideous. Always a massive queue. The bigger shame is that the building - rather handsome I think and the only quality item on that side of the high street - looks set for demolition too along with the post office next door. That leaves no banking or post office services in Brentford. The council can rubber stamp as many blocks of flats as they like with or without spurious affordable housing: Brentford will become more and more of a wasteland.

Mike Paterson ● 2811d