Fears of Loss of Alleyway Due to 'Developer Land Grab'

Wilton Avenue residents objecting to changes to Manor Gardens scheme

The alley currently has a brick wall at the end. Picture: ChiswickW4.com

October 28, 2025

Residents of Wilton Avenue and Ashbourne Grove in Chiswick are voicing strong concerns over a proposed housing development that they fear could compromise pedestrian access through a well-used public alleyway. The site, formerly occupied by council-owned garages, was sold off by Hounslow Council and is now subject to a revised planning application for six new apartments.

The alleyway, which links the cul-de-sac of Wilton Avenue to Ashbourne Grove, is an important pedestrian route for local residents which avoids the need to use the alternative route via Chiswick Lane. Campaigners say the lane has long served as a safe and convenient cut-through in an area with limited permeability, and its potential loss would have a disproportionate impact.

The revised application, submitted under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act, seeks to vary the original approval granted in 2021. While the developer describes the changes as “minor,” residents argue they are substantial—particularly in relation to building height and site layout. The Design and Access Statement accompanying the application outlines several technical reasons for the revisions, including the need to improve access to an existing electrical substation and to accommodate fire and refuse vehicles.

According to the statement, the original plans would have required relocating the substation, which proved impractical. Instead, the revised layout includes a widened turning area that overlaps with the public alleyway. This space is now proposed as a manoeuvring zone for emergency and service vehicles, despite the alley’s narrow width and proximity to neighbouring homes.

The development site at the end of Wilton Avenue. Picture: ChiswickW4.com

Drawings submitted with the design show how a fire engine would reverse into entrance to the alleyway to make a three-point turn. The wall which previous screen pedestrians from vehicle emerging from the former garages have been removed. Opponents of the plan say that this turning arrangement is not needed and has not been requested by the emergency services.

Drawing from the application showing how a vehicle would turn into the alleyway entrance

While the document claims the footpath will “remain open to the public in perpetuity,” the site drawings show it integrated into the development’s internal access strategy. Although a document submitted by the applicant states that the alleyway will remain open, there is no legal guarantee provided that public right of way will be preserved, and residents fear that the alleyway’s use for vehicles could lead to safety risks and eventual closure.

“If the alleyway is allowed to be used for vehicle access, it will become dangerous,” one resident said. “Eventually, the council may decide it’s too risky and shut it altogether—effectively handing it over to the developer.”

The consultation process has also come under scrutiny. Only two households adjacent to the site were formally notified, and no public notices were displayed in the area. Many residents only became aware of the proposal through informal channels, such as a neighbourhood WhatsApp group, days before the consultation period ended. A flyer distributed by the developer was mistaken by some for official council correspondence and directed recipients to a website describing the changes as minor.

The revised application also includes a modest increase in building height—465mm—due to updated construction standards and the need to accommodate insulation, ventilation, and sprinkler systems. The Design and Access Statement argues that this change is minimal and helps bridge the height difference between neighbouring homes and the existing Manor Gardens apartment block.

Residents are calling for greater transparency, proper public notification, and a full reassessment of the proposal’s impact on pedestrian access and neighbourhood character. They urge others in Chiswick to review the plans and make their views known before any decisions are finalised.

The planning application can be viewed via Hounslow Council’s planning portal under reference P/2025/1614. Comments can be made through the council site or by emailing planning@hounslow.gov.uk before 29 October.