London Wildlife Trust plan five-storey building with nine homes and visitor/education centre

An education and visitor centre is to be built at the London Wildlife Trust-run Gunnersbury Triangle, in Bollo Lane, as part of a project which includes a five-storey housing development of nine new homes.

The developer is Hounslow Council through its Lampton property company and the build is to be located on a small area of brownfield land within and adjacent to the nature reserve, which is owned by Hounslow Council. The education centre would be located on the ground floor of the building.

A planning application is now lodged with Ealing Council for the proposed project.The application calls for construction of a part 3, part 4, part 5 storey mixed use development to provide a ground floor visitor centre for the nature reserve with 9 residential units on the upper floors.

If granted, work is expected to start in early 2019. The application calls for Construction of a part 3, part 4, part 5 storey mixed use development to provide a ground floor visitor centre for the nature reserve with 9 residential units on the upper floors.

The Trust says that the new education and visitor centre will replace dilapidated, temporary units which have served the site for more than 30 years, and which are no longer fit-for-purpose.

Chief Executive of the London Wildlife Trust, Gordon Scorer, said, “For 30 years, we have been looking to bring forward a new wildlife centre for Gunnersbury Triangle. With the support of the London Borough of Hounslow, Lampton360 and EcoWorld, we will finally realise this dream. It will be a fantastic community asset, particularly for local children and families who will be able to make the most of the rich diversity of nature in Gunnersbury Triangle."

The Trust says, "The new building will at its highest point be five storeys high, and located so that only a marginal part of the reserve will receive any additional shading in early summer mornings. We are confident that any impact on the wildlife or natural assets of the nature reserve will be negligible, and have advised on ensuring that the new development is as wildlife-friendly as possible. Green roofs and living walls are planned to be installed on the building.

"The new facilities will ensure that Gunnersbury Triangle remains an important asset to local residents, visitors, and the wildlife that makes a home within this very special nature reserve. The Trust is very grateful to London Borough of Hounslow for their support in these new and exciting plans."

Located just across the road from Chiswick Park Underground Station on Bollo Lane, Gunnersbury Triangle opened to the public in 1985, having been saved from development by local campaigners, supported by London Wildlife Trust and the former Greater London Council. It is now a statutory Local Nature Reserve. Owned by London Borough of Hounslow and managed by London Wildlife Trust, the reserve is cared for by a small onsite Trust staff team and a dedicated group of volunteers.

The consultation deadline is 6 November 2018.

Hounslow Council issued a press release on Friday afternoon stating that; "The London Wildlife Trust and Gunnersbury Triangle Steering Group have been looking to improve facilities for visitors to the nature reserve for almost three decades. The proposals for the centre include a new classroom and visitor space, new offices for staff and volunteers and an entrance for educational displays."

Cllr Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said, “This is an excellent example of how sustainable development can really benefit local communities and enhance the local environment. We recognise the importance of protecting our fragile ecosystems in the face of population growth and demand for housing.

The proposal has led to a discussion on our forum where not everyone is in favour of the idea. One post said: "My proposal is this little scrap yard should be given to the London Wildlife Trust. They can build an education centre and a much nicer entrance to the nature reserve, the space where the current shack is can be given back to Nature. "

Another said, "This a highly problematical application - the site is so small that presumably some of the entrance area of the Nature Reserve is being given over to development. I can't see how otherwise you could get in as many flats as they want to build.

"It will also be very difficult to build and piling right next to an active tube line is something that will face a whole heap of regulatory constraints."

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October 22, 2018