Residents Unhappy About Planned Conversion of Mews Offices

Ten flats proposed in block off Turnham Green Terrace

The existing offices face onto a courtyard off the shopping street. Picture: Whitman Commercial

February 7, 2026

A proposal to convert a small office building in Turnham Green Terrace Mews into ten residential flats has been submitted to Hounslow Council, generating opposition from the local residents’ association. The application has been made by Ski World Ltd and seeks permission to change the use of Unit 14, a commercial building within the mews, into market-rent apartments.

The plans set out a mix of accommodation, including two two-bedroom duplexes, three one-bedroom flats, one three-bedroom flat and two smaller two-bedroom units. The site sits within a car-free courtyard behind Turnham Green Terrace, accessed via a private road between numbers 56 and 58. Under the proposal, residents would not be eligible for on-street parking permits, and a “no-car clause” would be written into licence agreements requiring occupants not to keep a vehicle within two miles of the building, except for blue badge holders.

A group of local residents and businesses led by the Thornton Mayfield Residents’ Association, has launched a campaign urging people to object to the application. They argue that the mews is a historic part of the Chiswick High Road Conservation Area and forms part of a long-established network of small commercial and service spaces behind the shops. Opponents say the courtyard was designed to provide a self-contained cluster of working spaces that complement the retail character of Turnham Green Terrace, and they fear that converting commercial units into housing would permanently alter its heritage and commercial identity.

Campaigners point to a previous application refused in 2007, when the council concluded that the site was not suitable for residential use and that converting it would fragment the existing employment space and threaten its long-term viability. They argue that the circumstances have not changed and that approving the current proposal would make it harder to resist similar conversions behind Turnham Green Terrace, Mayfield Avenue, Thornton Avenue and Elliott Road.

Residents have also raised concerns about the potential impact on parking in nearby streets. Although the development is intended to be car-free, opponents believe that visitors, carers, tradespeople and delivery drivers would still add pressure to roads such as Thornton Avenue, Mayfield Avenue, Chardon Road and Elliott Road, where parking is already limited. They also warn that ten new homes would generate round-the-clock movement in a courtyard originally designed for daytime business use, increasing traffic and servicing demands on Turnham Green Terrace.

Emergency access has been highlighted as another issue, with critics noting that the entrance to the mews is narrow, angled and constrained by bollards, which they believe could make it difficult for ambulances or fire engines to reach the building. Concerns have also been raised about the quality of the proposed homes, with some units relying on light wells, privacy screens and indirect light. Opponents argue that this could result in cramped accommodation with limited outlook, which they say is unsuitable for long-term living in what is effectively a service yard.

Noise is another point of contention. The enclosed nature of the courtyard, combined with hard surfaces, is said to amplify sound, and residents fear that additional activity from new households would increase disturbance for neighbours and existing businesses. Flood risk has also been cited, as the site lies within Flood Zone 3 and has experienced flooding in the past. Opponents argue that the consequences of flooding are far more serious for homes, particularly if it occurs at night when people may be asleep.

Local businesses have expressed concern that mixing residential and commercial uses in such a confined space could lead to future conflicts. They note that businesses require lighting, deliveries and operational flexibility, while residents typically expect quieter evenings and nights. They fear that complaints from new residents could place pressure on businesses that currently operate without issue. Waste management has also been raised as a practical concern, with no clear plan yet set out for separating residential and commercial waste, which opponents believe could lead to additional noise, clutter and disruption.

Campaigners stress that they are not opposed to change in principle, but they believe that replacing commercial space with housing in this location would have a cumulative impact on the character of the conservation area and the balance between residential and commercial uses in the neighbourhood.

The application, reference PAC/2026/0218, is open for public comment until 13 February. The council’s planning portal will be unavailable for scheduled maintenance between 11 and 12 February. Once the consultation period closes, planning officers will assess the proposal before it is considered by councillors at a future planning committee meeting.