Forum Topic

GSK Building plans set to be revealed

We are about to find out exactly what is planned for the massive GSK site.The developer has set up a www.hellobrentford.co.uk and is holding exhibitions next month.They do say that the plans are largely set. It looks like they might be willing to make minor changes but that is it. If you are hoping to see any further details on the project web site, get set for disappointment.

Kenneth Seally ● 125d23 Comments

I didn't make it along but someone who did said that it was, once again, bereft of any meaningful detail. The only thing she really got from it was that the developer is thinking of keeping more of the existing structure. The overall impression was that this was a tick box exercise so that they can say they have met requirements to consult.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 23d

Another information session is to be held at the Brentford Free Church on Saturday, 8 March. An indicative masterplan visuals and building imagery is promised so hopefully it will be a bit more informative than last time.

Kenneth Seally ● 35d

The building was officially opened by Tony Blair in 2002 so was probably built around 2000.

Anne England ● 46d

A 42 year life span for a building is madness. There are 1,000s of 100+ year houses in Brentford and Ealing which are fit for purpose now and probably will be for another 50 to 100 years.

Eric Alan Leach ● 48d

Sorry if this has already been covered. I remember when it was a toss up between GSK building in Brentford or building in Greenford. Brentford 'won'. I am dismayed or amazed or I can't quite work out what that a good no. of buildings which have gone up in my lifetime in Brentford (42 years) are now due for demolition. Apart from anything else, it makes me feel rather old!

Anne England ● 48d

The whole concept of the building is reminiscent of something almost a century earlier in Holborn Bars where the Prudential Assurance Company built, effectively, a community of workspace and shopping space. They used to be one of my customers and I would pick up bits of shopping and get a haircut in their Gentleman's barbers when I visited. It is worth trying to find some images of the interior online if you can

N V Brooks ● 48d

It would make a wonderful pool but would be an absolute nightmare both practically and particularly in terms of cost to heat.

N V Brooks ● 48d

You'd think I'd remember, having gone to the last meeting about the building, but I don't. From what I do remember - and it may not be 100% correct, the whole building is likely to come down and what is built in its place won't be a continuous block. The idea is to open up the space through the middle and to make links with Boston Manor Park which is a great idea. The bits under ground (supports?), which are apparently the most polluting, will be left in place. When speaking to the developers I twice - to their dismay - referred to the Great West Road as 'the great divide' but said that I was in fact much more inclined to go up that way since the doing up of Boston Manor House and Park which are fantastic. There are two buses running up from Brentford - the E8 and the 195.

Anne England ● 49d

Could the atrium be a performance space? An indoor market? Climbing walls? Maybe put a swimming pool in there. Anything but demolition.

Eric Alan Leach ● 49d

I agree. It is rather a stunning building and when you get inside it is like a High Street with a very high ceiling.Last time I talked to them they were mulling over options, and talking to planners. I think the base case is that the bit with the atrium is hard/impossible to repurpose but they are likely to retain much of it and repurpose.I must try and catch up with them, particularly about 'meanwhile' use which they were open to but said it was too early.

Guy Lambert ● 49d

You could put St.Stephens (sadly missed apart from that enormous crack) into a tiny corner of the. GSK atrium,vit is enormous. It is a bit of a 'statement' building. If there was a way of preserving it and not knocking it down that would be absolutely marvelous.

N V Brooks ● 49d

I am no architect or energy consultant but demolition of such a massive structure is a big Climate Emergency no no. I'm sure in years to come developers will have to surmount a very high bar to justify demolishing a modern building like GSK.As for re-purposing vast/large atria (atriums), plenty of churches with large atria have been converted to flats. Examples in West Ealing include St Aidans and St Stephens.

Eric Alan Leach ● 49d

It, while not impossible, is going to be difficult to repurpose. If you have ever visited there arevast atria (atriums) with no structure and many areas pefectly scope for administration or academia but not conversion to the much needed housing.

N V Brooks ● 50d

If I had attended, and asked the question, would I have received a meaningful answer?Developers have to be seen to be engaging with the public. There is no obligation on them to take any notice of what local residents ask or say.

Eric Alan Leach ● 51d

If you had gone to any of the public consultations, you could have asked these questions for yourself. The last one was a month or so before Christmas in St Paul's church. When any building will begin is another matter.

Anne England ● 52d

More silence on this huge site.Anybody any clues about whether buildings will be demolished or 're-purposed'? Building demolition would be such a major Climate Emergency own goal.I wonder what the Hounslow Local Plan has to say about the site?

Eric Alan Leach ● 52d

The problem Jim is that UWL has spent a huge sum on the Paragon and St. Mary's Road sites. I agree though it would make an amazing campus.

N V Brooks ● 104d

I should think that the University has considered that idea and decided against it for whatever reason. It would be good though if some links could be made between the two sites.I went to a display re the development in St Paul's Church only a couple of weeks ago and was pleased to hear that the plan is to open up spaces between buildings rather than replicate the 'barrier' which is currently there. I got the feeling that not much of the existing building will be retained although the foundations will be.

Anne England ● 104d

Hoardings now surround the GSK site ... suggesting that something is happening.Wouldn't it make a prestigious site for the University of West London?

Jim Lawes ● 104d

The plans for the site’s eventual use are still very much up in the air.There have been a number of sessions where local residents have been invited to put forward ideas and discuss requirements that are currently lacking in the Brentford and south Ealing areas. I know because I went to one after taking the time to talk to a project researcher at the Brentford festival. The session I attended in October was one of a number held in Brentford, and they were well attended.They are not just looking at the building use but also how to integrate it and its external areas into the surrounding region.There were a lot of interesting proposals put forward, including access to the canal and incorporating workshop space into the new development to replace some of that which has been swept away in recent years. Of course, whether any of these residents ideas are taken up is another matter, but on this occasion they have actually taken the time to ask people who live here what they think and what they would like. That’s a marked contrast to other developments, where plans are decided years before any application goes in and public consultation is just a box ticking exercise.

Simon Hayes ● 110d

Call me a cynic but looking at the very vague, touchy feely exhibition materials, I find it hard to believe that there isn't a, literally, much more concrete plan sitting behind them. The developers seemed to be trying to manage the first stage of public consultation by giving the public nothing to be consulted on.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 111d

Congratulations LBEaling Mk.2 although probably fewer backhanders.

N V Brooks ● 122d

Anyone else notice its all about Brentford, Hounslow.They don't even have a clue as to the location.  Osterley and Isleworth and between Brentford and Hounslow.Surprised they did not say Brentford, London - unless some consultant pointed out it does not have a London Postcode.Brentford TW8 or better still Brentford, Middlesex and the default County Town after Westminster became a chartered City.So I think it will be no prizes for guessing what's coming. More of the same and no infrastructure to support.

Raymond Havelock ● 122d