Forum Topic

The Brentford Project

I am looking at buying a property in The Brentford Project and have lived in Chiswick for 12 years or so. I am scared to make the leap!What are your thoughts on residents of Brentford living there currently?More importantly (for me anyway!) what are your thoughts on The Brentford Project?Thanks so muchJ

Jenny Smith ● 1357d26 Comments

May I ask why?

Jenny Smith ● 1076d

That's atrifle harsh.I've lived here 20 years and have never been happier with where I live.

Keith Iddon ● 1088d

Unless you need to be in the area for a good reason - work, schoolsm etc. I would certainly NOT move to Brentford. I have moved out.

Samantha Barwell ● 1088d

I see the sorting office has been demolished pdq and I await to feast my eyes upon the architectural masterpiece that will replace it.I know the sorting office design was nothing to write home about,but it was purely functional,unlike housing..This site was also where some think our erstwhile t resident Princess Pocahontas lived for a year or so before she met her tragic end on a barge heading for Gravesend.

Keith Iddon ● 1088d

I wonder if your opinions have changed since last year?It seems excessive developement continues. The Boston Parade being an example. Objections galore but push push push by the developers.I now live in Sheltered  Accommodation in Brentfordand find it so central for travelling in all directions. In addition I'm safely away from living in a violent and nasty household in Heston.And the 65 bus route is not the only one I use!

Jim Lawes ● 1091d

Hi I am a single woman, and have lived in Brentford for about 17 years. I have always, pretty much, felt safe here - even coming back late at night. Morrisons is a fantastic supermarket. Transport links are great, including a reliable train service into central London, plus various Tube lines, and bus services. All in all, it's a great place to live, with the river and Kew nearby as well. Don't hesitate!

Rosemary Ward ● 1300d

Depending on budget, i would buy a Victorian cottage with no (stupidly high) service charge but outside space.In fact,in many cases the house will actually be a lower price than the BP flats.

Simon Wycombe ● 1314d

Brentford is in the main rather safe, a lot because of it's tight knit community even though the demographics are wide.But the seismic increase in populous and a widening of the haves and have nots is starting to brew division and discontent and malevolence.Something that developers and their allies do not care a fig about.

Raymond Havelock ● 1315d

Crikey, who are these friends? I've lived in Brentford near enough 40 years and feel it's about as safe as anywhere. Of course things can happen but rarely do.

Anne England ● 1316d

Safety: See police report to the last Isleworth and Brentford Area Forum. https://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=576&MId=12120

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 1316d

I moved to Brentford 3 years ago, from a typical Victorian cottage in Ealing to a flat in the Brentford Lock West development. Zero regrets over the move. I have as much space in my flat as I had in my cottage, and now live in a well-insulated, modern property where I don't personally have to worry about organising the usual problems that beset owners of old properties. I can simply lock up and leave. Masses of light is a big bonus (the big windows let in so much more light than my old cottage) I have a decent-sized balcony with space for plants, a table, chairs. 5 bus routes within a 5-minute walk, Brentford station isn't that far away and will be even closer when the new pedestrian bridge across the canal/river is completed in 2024. To get into central London north of the river I usually hop onto the E2 (E8 is an alternative option) and catch the Piccadilly line in. As for safety - I don't own a car and am perfectly happy walking around Brentford, even after going put in the evening either locally or further away. It certainly feels a lot safer than somewhere like Richmond centre late in the evening.

Sue Rowe ● 1317d

Thank you all so much for such insightful information! I was actually quite deep in to the Ballymore project so I know all about the additions, service charge etc. From what I gather, its not a welcome addition to the area at all?Is Morrisons the only place to shop? How about transport in to central London, how reliable is the train line? Do you feel safe there? I have a lot of friends who have suggested that as a single woman, I wouldn't be safe moving there alone. Thank you all again!

Jenny Smith ● 1317d

Ballymore. Wretched spell check.

Raymond Havelock ● 1338d

... or the roots of Baltimore's origins.Even worse.

Raymond Havelock ● 1338d

It’s worth googling “ballymore cladding fire” as well.

David Marshall ● 1339d

Brentford is a lovely place with the river, canal and nearby green spaces (Syon Park, Boston Manor Park, Gunnersbury Park, Osterley Park, Kew Gardens, Richmond Park etc). Unfortunately it is being ruined by over-development involving huge blocks of flats that (check out the plans for the Morrisons site - utterly ghastly and completely overbearing). Nothing is too high, or too dense for poor old Brentford it seems. Regarding the Brentford Project, the prices are astonishing. You need to take a careful look at what the service charges will be and who will control that. Suggest you Google 'Ballymore + service charge'. Good luck.

Jo Francis ● 1339d

We both had expat childhoods, met at Uni in Brighton then lived in South Norwood for 1 year then Melbourne for 5 years then Kew for 40 in an Edwardian terrace house. Six years ago we were looking for a change and set ourselves a radius limit of 3 miles. We moved 1½, to the middle of Brentford in a conversion apartment with roof terrace. Without downsizing, we released some cash to help our 2 children and have really enjoyed Brentford. Kew is green and leafy in comparison but also a bit twee and boring as well as expensive. Brentford is a lovely mix of generally friendly people, with far more going on. There are quite a few little boxes being built but also some better flats and there is still a fair bit of conventional housing on offer. If choosing a flat do look at ones built a few years ago and I'd suggest making sure there are no nasties lurking; ground rent doubling, flammable cladding, roofs, lifts and windows needing replacing etc. I do think the place is improving now: our Bees in the Premiership, much cleaner buses, access to waterways about to improve significantly and pretty good provision of parks, libraries etc.

Eric Baker ● 1346d

Well said.  We are existing in a dormitary town.  Miniscule flats rear up from any little space.  Nothing of beauty, just concrete.  Very sad.

Carol Jean Lamb ● 1347d

Hello Jenny,There are plenty of X Chiswick residents living in Brentford Dock, property is so much cheaper than that monstrous hideous Brentford project development going on across the Canal from us. Unlike the Brentford Project we have a proper private river front and access to Syon Park. Brentford Dock is democratically run and have a board representing us at all levels. I have lived here over 12 years after moving from Hammersmith and several of my neighbours have lived here longer.

David Cook ● 1354d

I like living here very much, but if ever a place deserved the expression 'famine or feast' as regards property development, it is Brentford.No development for years,properties allowed to fall into disrepair and near dereliction over 30 years and then development overkill.This has encouraged a 'well anything's better than what we had'attitude amomngst some.Be careful what you wish for..

Keith Iddon ● 1356d

Of all the places I've lived here and abroad, my birth town of Brentford is the best.With the Brentford Ealing overlaps also being good.What is so bad is how galling it is to see all around how the strong and diverse communities are being bombarded with developments that are oversized and systematically degrading the whole place bit by bit.Some of the developments are OK - The ones with adequate parking, stylish and less obtrusive. But others are monstrous, souls and have not created anything like all the pre build rhetoric.Losing light and a more and more closed skyline with all the problems that brings from micro climatic disturbances to much higher ground pollution - at the same time that authorities declare war on the climate and environmental problems and yet still these developments get waved through as so little of the environmental damage and implications are mitigable in planning is simply wrong.Similarly with the conveyor belt of Regeneration Directors who see only meeting housing quite and deals with developers as their objective whilst shedding jobs and workspaces for light industrial businesses to the point of an unhealthy balance and increasing dependency on commuting further and further for quality employment and careers.It's a shame, Brentford had a fab balance of both but suffered stagnation and neglect and now is a piece of plasticise in the hands of developers and the Mayor of London's and government's distorted and myopic policies.

Raymond Havelock ● 1356d

Jenny - I lived in Chiswick for 25years plus and have lived in Brentford for about 10.I love living here. It's a friendly place, right on the rivers and canal, great pubs and decent restaurants/cafes. Retail is very limited at present though Morrisons is there as an OK supermarket and Morrisons are committed to a new store in the Brentford Project - people tell me their new stores are much better. There will likely be new retail when the south side of the High Street reopens but it's hard to predict what we'll get, especially in the current environment. Chiswick is 10 mins away by car, bike or bus if you want more diverse retail, Ealing probably not much further.Can't speak for the Ballymore flats and there is a premium for new property which would put me off a bit but obviously there are attractions.Don't be scared to come to Brentford though - it's great!

Guy Lambert ● 1357d

Interesting question. Chiswick and Brentford have both been blighted, but in their own way. The only solution is to get out of the borough completely. That's what I'm doing. But to answer your questions properly. 1) Brentford people are lovely 2) We won't know how good or bad the Brentford Project will be for another 10 years I expect. I daresay the apartments will be quite good, but you have to view the thing in the round.

Mike Paterson ● 1357d

I would personally wait until the 'Project' was finished before making a decision to move. At the moment there is only one supermarket and that is under threat. No one seems to know what retailers might be attracted to the area. Having said that Brentford was a good place to live with a friendly community but who knows what the future will bring.

Pat Kingham ● 1357d

Do you mean those residents that have had their flats and or businesses demolished or are being priced out of the neighborhood by greedy builders....don't worry they will be gone soon and you will have all of Brentford to yourself.

Bob Shipp ● 1357d

A piece of souls and contrived crass marketing. Go see for yourself

Raymond Havelock ● 1357d