Pulse Smart Hubs Refused For Chiswick High Road

Would 'impair visibility for vehicles and harm the pedestrian experience'

An image of what the Pulse Smart Hub would look like

Hounslow Council has refused permission for two new telephone/communications units, known as a Pulse Smart Hubs.

The Hubs, which have inset digital advertising screens, were proposed for outside 548 and 610 Chiswick High Road. They have built in defibrillators and free wifi, air quality monitoring and free interactive maps and local information.

Urban Innovation Company, a telecommunications code operator which designed and developed the Pulse Smart Hub say the Hubs have "revolutionised the humble telephone kiosk." They say many existing telephone kiosks are outdated and not providing the range of services required by people in cities.

Similar hubs have recently been installed in Belfast.

However Hounslow Council Planners refused consent, stating; "The proposed Pulse Hub featuring a double-sided advertisement would impair visibility for vehicles using Chiswick High Road and the vehicle access between nos. 456 and 458, causing harm to highway and pedestrian safety"

The Council went on to say that the Pulse Hug would "introduce an incongruous addition which would harm the pedestrian experience along the street and fail to preserrve or enhance the character of the nearby Wellesley Road Conservation Area."

The Council planners also noted that the applicant did not enter into any pre-application discussion, which could have given advice in advance.

June 21, 2019