New Plan for Historic Heathfield Terrace Drill Hall
Bid to renovate the building to provide space for creative businesses
The Drill Hall is next to Turnham Green
September 19, 2023
A planning application (P/2023/2880) has been submitted which, if approved, would see the Drill Hall building on Heathfield Terrace brought back into use.
The site south of Turnham Green has been vacant for several years after iburbia Studios went out of business. The proposal is to expand and renovate it for use as office space for start-ups.
Sergison Bates Architects has designed the changes on behalf of Exelenz Ltd which would see an extension of the basement, the replacement and the raising of the roof, alterations to the façade and a new entrance canopy.
The nineteenth century building is in front of a former warehouse and is sometimes known as the Independiente building due to the name of the record company that used to occupy it still being on the front.
The building which was constructed around 1892 is locally listed and is in the Turnham Green Conservation Area. The single storey interior comprises a double-height hall space with vaulting.
It was originally a headquarters for the 1st Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps and was designed for military drills and exercises. In the early 20th century, the Drill Hall was used by a variety of military units, including the Territorial Army and the Home Guard as well as other community events, such as dances and concerts.
During World War II, it was used as a storage facility for the Royal Air Force and subsequently by Chiswick Polytechnic and the Chiswick Arts Centre. In the 1980s it fell into disuse, but a campaign was launched to save it and it was restored in the early nineties when it was acquired by Independiente who sound proofed it for use as a recording studio.
A picture of the interior of the building from documents submitted with the application
iBurbia Studios provided a creative centre for multi-media production and the intention is, once converted, to operate it in a similar way as a creative business and service hub.
Planning permission was granted in 2018 for a similar plan at the site but it was not taken forward due to the impact of the pandemic.
The extension of the basement is smaller than that previously approved and it is intended that it will house service function for the building such as a plant room, changing rooms and toilets and a staff kitchen.
The redesign of the façade will include a new ‘The Drill Hall’ sign above the front entrance.
If you wish to comment on the proposal, visit the planning section of the Hounslow Council web site and search using the reference P/2023/2880.
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