Hudson Square Development To Be Seventeen Storeys High

B&Q site development has too much parking space according to TfL

Image of scheme released by the developer

Further details of the planned Hudson Square development on the current site of B&Q near Chiswick Roundabout have become available showing that the maximum height of the scheme will be seventeen storeys.

The information became available with the publication on Hounslow Council’s web site of documentation relating to the pre-application discussions between the planning authority and the developer. Reef Group working with architects Benoy presented a series of outline plans for 'Hudson Square' back in July 2017 and have since sent a scoping report outlining the what the environmental survey to be submitted with the application will consider.

No detailed designs are presented with the reports but they do confirm the proposed redevelopment of the site will involve the demolition of the existing buildings, and the construction of a set of multi-storey buildings, the tallest buildings up to a maximum height of 17 storeys (above ground floor) and the massing of the other buildings varying in height between 3 to 12 storeys, which together with a basement provides a mixed use scheme comprising residential housing, as well
as commercial space which will predominantly be made up of car showrooms.

Seventeen storeys is the same height as the nearby Chiswick Tower (BSI Building) on Chiswick High Road.

Initial outline design for scheme which may now be revised

Transport for London responded to the developer’s scoping report by saying that they were unhappy with the methodology to be used to determine the impact on traffic flows and that the 500 proposed parking spaces for the car-themed development were excessive. They said the modelling proposed, “falls significantly short of TfL’s requirement set out in their pre-application advice” and that the car parking does “not comply with London Plan policies and Mayor’s Transport Strategy objectives.”

Historic England responded to the scoping documents by saying, “We would draw your attention in particular to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew World Heritage Site and its buffer zone; the Grade II* Registered Park and Garden of Gunnersbury Park and its associated Conservation Area; Strand on the Green Conservation Area; Kew Green Conservation Area, and the designated heritage assets contained within these areas, all of which we have identified as sensitive to taller development within their setting in the course of recent planning applications.”

The drawings for the overall outline design showed at least six tower blocks in a mixed use development although this layout may now have been revised. Initially the B&Q development, which will be called Hudson Square, was to contain two blocks of student housing, a hotel, boutique cinema, car showcase as well as retail and assorted residential including an affordable block of flats. Later this month the developer is to reveal more detail about their plans in two exhibitions taking place in Brentford.

B&Q site (Google)

Located to the north of Chiswick Roundabout, the site is bordered by the Great West Road, Larch Drive, the North Circular Road and Gunnersbury Park to the north. It is approximately 1.6 hectares in size. It was once home to the Hudson Motor Company and played a key role in the industrial formation of the Great West Road, with purpose built premises for the company established on the site in 1926.

The exhibition takes place at The Musical Museum, 399 High Street, Brentford TW8 0DU on  Tuesday 19 March (3:30–7:30pm) and Thursday 21 March (3:30pm– 7:30pm).

To give feedback on the proposals contact hudsonssquare@yourshout.org, visit hudsonsquare.co.uk, phone 0800 955 1042 or 020 7587 3049 or by post to FREEPOST RTXU-JGSR-KHLE, Hudson square consultation, Your Shout, 312 China Works, Black Prince Road, London SE1 7SJ.

March 15, 2019