Forum Topic

Brentford regeneration?

When I first moved to Brentford 4 years ago, there was much talk (especially by the estate agents) about redevelopment of the high street and surrounding areas. 4 years on and I love living in Brentford, redevelopment or not. But I wondered if anyone knew of any such plans and what their progress might be? Or has the recession put a lid on things?

Jenny Man ● 5954d5 Comments

So it appears that despite community frustration and continued efforts, any redevelopment is still a very long way off. I'll ask the question again in 4 years... Andrew, thank you for the insights. Please continue with your updates.

Jenny Man ● 5953d

Alan - Brentford would be helped if there was more planning officer resource concentrated on strategic development issues.  What does that mean?  Well at the moment the Council officers are responding reactively to development proposals and it seems to get left to me (!) to get on the phone and challenge/ encourage key developers in equal measure.  To be fair, Brentford was recently included in a visit by Design for London and the HCA to the borough, but it must not be seen as any less of a priority than Hounslow Town Centre's regeneration.I would agree ISIS did not help Brentford with their first planning application and vacating the site of tenants.  Fortunately there is now a new team in place who are taking a more enlightened approach, but we must still watch the proposals very closely - see http://tinyurl.com/commerceroad and www.brentfordlockwest.comAs per my June 09 update the South side of Brentford High Street has been much more complicated in terms of land aquisition/ consolidation (than Commerce Rd).  The initial site ideas developed by BDP for Ballymore in c 2008 were clearly an inappropriate approach for the site and I am currently using the time the economic slow down gives us to liaise with Ballymore regarding a different approach to moving the site masterplanning process forward.Best, Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 5953d

Its bit easy to blame the recession and lack of funding for large projects over 2008 / 09. The south of high street has been in shambles for years and years before then. Plenty of time for development. In that time the old glaxo site was flattened and the development is in its final stages. There is no way the glaxo site, with its "slap-facing the M4 raised section" is a more attractive location for developers or incomers than the south high street. Could it be something else? Could it factors like the Commerce Rd site where the developers have wasted 3-4 years by proposing the highest density development imaginable - with the less than surprising result of locals campaigning against it and the development not being approved?The lack of regeneration must have its roots in more than the recent recession. It must be issues with the developers, with the local council and with Isis (the land owners for much of the area).

Alan Clark ● 5953d

Jenny - As you guessed, with land consolidation pretty much complete it is now the recession that is slowly down the town centre regeneration.  For my detailed June 09 update see www.brentfordhighstreet.org.uk - direct link: http://www.coactivate.org/projects/brentfordhighstreet/latest-update-from-cllr-andrew-dakersLet me know if you have any follow-up questions once you've had a read.Best, Andrew

Andrew Dakers ● 5954d

The redevelopment is a farce; Hundreds of millions were supposedly ring marked for regeneration back in 1997 as yet we haven't had it the best sites have been cherry picked and the resesion has put a hold on every thing else. Property sales in the cherry picked developments are pretty much at a standstill due to the fact that nothing is being done to the high street.Its just as well really, the expansion land at Mogdan that was to deal with all the extra bums on seats has been flogged of to property developers for profit, sorry housing.You bought your home believing in these developments and people like me opened our businesses, you have waited 4years I've waited 13 its a joke a very sad joke.

Philip Walsh ● 5954d