Historic England and Richmond Council unite to thwart new Brentford towers
Developer has been forced to reconsider plans for the Sega site on Great West Road
Developers have been forced to reconsider their plans to build five towers on the Great West Road because of their intrusion into skyline visible from Kew Green and Kew Gardens.
Areli Group initially proposed building the towers ranging from 14 stories to 18 stories next to Brentford Community Stadium on the site of Sega’s European headquarters.
But the proposals were rejected by Historic England and Richmond Council, which were later supported by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
Historic England said that it was vital to preserve the sense of Kew Gardens “being an exotic world apart” and of maintaining Kew Green’s village atmosphere.
“Through its height and massing this development would be one of the largest developments, visible across a wide area..It’s scale would seem even greater because of the alignment of its towers, making it appear as a wall of development,” Historic England wrote to Hounslow Council last year.
“We strongly object to the proposal….we recommend that the scheme is refused or withdrawn.”
Richmond Council echoed the concerns of Historic England and objected to the project’s “harmful skyline intrusion.”
Areli Group initially proposed to build 916 homes of which 35 percent would be affordable. Their new proposals include plans for 856 homes with the same percentage of affordable apartments. The distance between the towers has been increased and two have been reduced from 17 stories to 11 and 13 respectively. The most westerly tower has been increased from 14 stories to 17 stories.
The plans include a public space, Golden Mile Square, which will be the new home for the Brentford Fountain and a site of community events for residents and Brentford FC. The company has also reserved space for Lionel Road station, which would be part of Transport for London’s West London Orbital railway linking Hounslow to Old Oak Common and Hendon.
Developers also hope to improve the crossing under the M4 and are working with Gunnersbury Park to re-open the park’s southern gate.
Hounslow Council are now considering the new proposals.
The development of the Sega site is part of a package of new residential sites on the Great West Road. Both the former Homebase site and GSK headquarters are earmarked for major re-development.