Deadline Looms for Comments on Burlington Lane Plan
Old Chiswick residents' group describes it as a fight for survival
A visualisation of the building as seen from Hogarth Roundabout
October 27, 2025
Residents and heritage groups have until Monday 3 November to submit comments on a proposed 10-storey residential development at 1 Burlington Lane, near the Hogarth roundabout in Chiswick.
The scheme, approved by Hounslow Council’s planning committee, is now awaiting a final decision by the Mayor of London on 5 November. At the time of writing 672 comments had been received.
The proposal includes 132 apartments, with a portion designated as social housing. Council officers cited the borough’s housing crisis and the inclusion of affordable units as justification for supporting the plan. Planning documents concluded that the impact on heritage views would constitute “less than substantial harm,” a threshold that allows approval if public benefits are deemed to outweigh the damage.
However, the Old Chiswick Protection Society, which has campaigned for conservation-led development for over 60 years, describes the challenge to the development as a ‘fight for survival. It argues that the building’s height and massing would “dominate” the surrounding area and “rob” Old Chiswick of its character and atmosphere. The group describes the design as “dissonant” and warns that it would be visible from multiple directions, including key views of St Nicholas Church from the south bank of the Thames.
Alasdair Young of Historic England said, “Because of the harm caused to multiple aspects of the very special historic environment in this part of Chiswick, including to some of the most sensitive assets in the borough, Historic England objects to these proposals. We strongly recommend that more modest forms of development are pursued for this site which would not appear in particularly sensitive views within Chiswick House and gardens and would respond appropriately to the Old Chiswick Conservation Area and the setting of other heritage assets”
Local MP Andy Slaughter and Hounslow’s own conservation officer have also raised concerns about scale, affordability, and compatibility with the historic environment.
The site, currently vacant, was previously home to independent television and film companies. While the existing building is considered underwhelming in appearance, critics argue that redevelopment should respect the adjacent conservation areas and the legacy of community-led planning.
The Old Chiswick Protection Society is urging residents to submit comments to the Greater London Authority before the 3 November deadline. The group maintains that the proposal should be revised to better reflect the area’s heritage and community needs.
To make a comment visit the planning section of the Greater London Authority (GLA) site.
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