Images from the third application
(Click on the image to see the plan in context)
Our response to 3rd application
goes to Area Committee
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Comments on the previous application
(Architects: Clarke-Renner)
The Inspector said - "The new building would not adequately respect or relate to the
local sense of place and identity."
The frontage is too long -
"from almost every viewpoint the perception would be of a continuous frontage to Thornbury Road, some 100 metres long";
The building is too high. - "At 4 to 5 storeys high above basement level,
this would be unlike anything in the surrounding area";
Open space should be protected - "the proposal would have a negative impact on the
provision of local open space".
Read the Inspector's Report, or our
summary of its key points.
Consultation - Time To Write
The Council consultation over the third application to develop the Campion House site is underway. The most effective thing that residents can do is to write individual letters. We can provide help but the letter you send must express your views.
John Thompson and Partners (JTP) held an exhibition on 22nd April to give an overview of the application. It included a 3-D model. They also circulated a newsletter putting the developer's case. Please read this newsletter before sending in your views. Comments will be more effective if they are based on an understanding of the developer's view, whether or not you agree with it. The newsletter includes a site masterplan. It is useful to see the masterplan in context. And here is the Landscape masterplan. JTP has produced artist's impression 1 and artist's impression 2. Compare these with our photograph1 and photograph2 of the opposite of the road. Finally, a Thornbury Road elevation.
Block A - the "doctor's surgery" - is now a block of 9 flats. Many had predicted this transformation.
OUR KEY CONCERNS.
(1) Loss of open space. The application doesn't quantify the encroachment on local open space (space protected from development). The encroachment is significant which is why the developer's Planning Statement (especially pages 54-61) gives it so much attention. It is against the letter and spirit of the London Plan. See our case against encroachment. 50% of the current local open space would be lost. If the proposed publicly accessible space were to be designated as local open space, the net loss would still be 30%. This should not be accepted by our planners or councillors. Hounslow /London guidelines say that planning aims should be achieved whilst protecting local open space.
(2) Too close to the Gymkhana. We believe that some of the buildings are too close to the noise and floodlights of the Indian Gymkhana's astroturf pitch.
(3) Height and size of buildings. The original Hounslow planning specification for this site said that buildings of three to four storeys would be appropriate. The buildings on the opposite side of the road are two-storey houses. We think that the buildings along the front of the site should be limited to three storeys in order to keep some balance. Buildings rising to five storeys (the developer calls them "four and a half storeys)" are inappropriate. We think that blocks C and D would present an impression of far greater bulk than Campion House and should be reduced/removed. A Linden Homes development just 460m from Campion shows what is required.
(4) Housing density too high. The attempt to put too much housing on the site is the cause of the main problems. The housing facing the site is &asymp 30 dwellings per hectare (dph). In the immediately surrounding conservation area it is &asymp 40 dph. Linden Homes says that the guideline range for the site 40 - 80 dph. We say that it should be 35-65 dph. The application density is at least 74 dph. The objective of increased density should be achieved without exceeding the mid point of the density range (60dph according to Linden Homes, 50 dph according to us). 74 dph exceeds London's new development average of 68 dph. This is inappropriate in a sensitive spot in a conservation area.
Making information available. The application papers can be seen in Osterley Library, we can provide them on disk, or you can download them. See also Newsletter No.20.
Residents' letter are now what matters. If there are things in the application you like then say so. If there are matters which you think should, nevertheless, be grounds for refusal then make that clear. Some problems might be resolved by post-approval conditions. See Newsletter No.20 and our Green Book for details.
