King Street regeneration - breathing life into Hammersmith
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
06/05/2008
The next stage of a multi-million pound redevelopment of the West End of King Street has started after a new series of consultation meetings begins with residents.
Following months of detailed analysis by experts in property, planning, finance and environment, Hammersmith & Fulham Council announced, in January, that Grainger/Helical Bar had been chosen to spearhead the work.
Grainger/Helical Bar are now taking the initial steps to assemble the site while talking to residents about a range of issues including design and future accommodation for those affected.
The exciting plans involve creating a public piazza on the site of the ugly town hall extension, as well as creating new restaurants, shops, homes, offices and civic buildings. The innovative proposals also include a futuristic, step-free bridge linking the town centre and picturesque Furnival Gardens.
Cllr Mark Loveday, H&F Council Cabinet Member for Strategy, says: “These plans will be a new kick-start for King Street. We want to make our town centre great again and over the coming months residents will be asked to give their thoughts on the proposals so the final scheme truly establishes this end of King Street as an even more desirable place in which to live, work and shop.”
As well as consulting widely with residents Grainger/Helical Bar are exploring potential operators for the community sized food store planned for the site.
“We want future generations to be proud of the area around Hammersmith town hall and we are now at the pre-planning application stage where the views of all interested parties will be vital,” continues Cllr Loveday.
In a separate development, which has nothing to do with the council scheme proposed with Grainger/Helical Bar, the owner of the cinema site - St James Investments - has submitted a planning application to build a supermarket on the site. The council believes that its proposals, with Grainger/Helical Bar, will deliver the comprehensive redevelopment of the West End of King Street where as piece meal proposals involving individual parcels of land will not.
Cllr Loveday concludes: “The council is eager to see a wide range of regeneration objectives for the whole of King Street. We have recently started discussions with the various landowners involved to assemble the site and we are hopeful of achieving a deal that suits everyone. However, we have always said that, if this is not possible we will not hesitate to use our compulsory purchase powers.”
Grainger/Helical Bar are expected to submit their own planning application towards the end of 2008 with a council planning committee set to hear the application in early 2009. Prior to submitting a planning application there will be a number of consultation events with the local community and a leaflet is currently being distributed giving more details on the next steps. For more information you can contact James Sachon or Nick Jones at M&N Communications on 020 7831 0534.
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Notes for editors:
Your questions answered
Q1) What area does the site include?
The site includes everything within King Street, Cromwell Avenue, Nigel Playfair Avenue and the A4.
Q2) How many homes/shops will there be?
Detailed proposals are currently being worked up so that residents can have their say in the various consultation stages later this summer.
Q3) What consultation will there be on the proposals?
The council is continuing its consultation exercise with local residents. The next steps will include regular newsletters, a public exhibition, a dedicate website and meetings with local groups. This is vital in ensuring the scheme is right for the local area. All the comments made at these events will be fed back to the design team to help them produce the final proposals.
Q4) How long will the development take?
The current programme is for a planning application to be submitted to Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s planning committee in late 2008. This will then be assessed by the committee and a decision made in early 2009. If planning permission is granted it is anticipated that the development will take up to five years to build.
Q5) Who are Grainger/Helical Bar?
Grainger plc is a UK based listed property company which specializes in owning, developing, managing, and selling residential property. The company owns 14,000 residential properties making it the UK’s largest residential landlord and a specialist in creating and maintaining sustainable communities.
Helical Bar plc, has an extensive track record in developing high quality commercial buildings. Since 1994 Helical Bar has developed and sold over 4m sq ft of office, industrial and retail floor space. Helical have significant experience in Hammersmith and Fulham both as a developer and owner of property and Helical’s development at 200 Hammersmith Road won the Environment Award from The Hammersmith Society.
