Chiswick Tower Plan Scaled Back from Original Designs |
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Proposal for housing on car parks ditched in application
March 13, 2025 The application for the conversion of Chiswick Tower has been submitted with the developer opting to only proceed with part of the original scheme. Permission is still being sought by Chiswick Tower Ltd to switch the existing office space to use as over 400 co-living apartments as well as some affordable housing but the 28 town houses that were to be built on the car parks at the rear of the building are not part of the application. A consultation was held towards the end of last year at which point it was decided to reduce the scope of the development. The developer’s spokesperson says it is now proposed to develop different parts of the site at different times following feedback from Transport for London and Network Rail about the possibility of introducing step free access at Gunnersbury Station. The application site excludes the southern part of the western car park, the entire eastern car park and the bridge connecting them because the applicant understands that all or some of this land may be required for improvements to the station. The proposals submitted include a commitment to give up access rights to the area by the road bridge between the two car parks which would be needed to make the station accessible. Consideration will also be given to creating a Wellesley Road station entrance. The planning application includes the redevelopment of the annex facing Chiswick High Road to the east of the tower where 23 affordable flats will be added in a new nine-storey building. The car parks would now be used for logistics and access during the construction period. The developer has also submitted another application (PAC/2025/0749) for a conversion into 181 flats with no affordable housing at the annex. The developer’s representative says that this is a fall-back application and the preference us to proceed with the 400 co-living apartments. There are similar guarantees made about access being given to land to enable the upgrade of Gunnersbury Station. The proposed development would be car-free with five spaces for disabled persons provided in the existing car park to the rear of the building.
The developer argues that a reuse of Chiswick Tower to provide accommodation is more sustainable and is also offering increased public realm along Chiswick High Road with onsite public play space and greenery. The site was acquired last year by a new owner, reported in the property industry press to be from the Middle East, and shortly afterwards it was announced that it intended to convert the 19-storey office block. The developer says that despite a relatively recent refurbishment, Chiswick Tower is not fully let and the largest tenant, BSI, is relocating to central London.
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