Fulham's Currys PC World to Close at End of February
Long established store moving out to make way for site's redevelopment
CGI of new development at Hurlingham Retail Park
Fulham's Currys PC World with Carphone Warehouse store by Wandsworth Bridge is to close at the end of February to make way for the site to be redeveloped.
A spokesperson for the company confirmed the shutdown saying: "As part of our landlord's plans to redevelop the Hurlingham Retail Park, we will close our Fulham store on 29 February 2020.
" All colleagues will be redeployed locally and fully supported throughout this process. Our customers can find their nearest Currys PC World with Carphone Warehouse store in Kensington High Street and further stores on our website."
Other nearby Currys PC World with Carphone Warehouse stores are in Westfield and Wimbledon while there are
Carphone Warehouse stores in North End Road, Earls Court and Kings Road.
The store, the junction of Wandsworth Bridge and Carnwath Roads has been open since October 2009, when its launch attracted long queues of shoppers.
However in December 2014, developer Londonewcastle was given permission to demolish the current building and create two new buildings of 12 and ten storeys containing around 240 new homes plus space for shops, restaurants or pubs. The plans also included upgrading the Thames Path, repairing the river wall and adding new landscaping, both public and private open space including pedestrian and cycle routes.
The full planning application and supporting documents can be seen here
The plans were drawn up by Hopkins Architects, who said: " This development includes 242 high-quality residential units together with retail and leisure space set around a landscaped central garden inspired by the traditional London square.
" It will significantly improve public access and connectivity to the riverfront through an expanded footpath and includes active facades that will feature restaurants, cafes, retail space and entrance lobbies opening out into the public realm at ground level.
" The building has been designed to respond to its setting, assuming a smaller scale as it moves away from the river towards the north. It features articulated facades that vary in appearance to reflect the areas they face: riverfront, bridge, retail corner or residential neighbourhood.
" Stepped attic storeys are of differing heights to help further attenuate the building's scale and add visual interest to the design, with planted roof terraces offering residents dramatic views across the river and the city."
Five years later in November 2019 a new planning application was submitted, varying the original description to remove the number of storeys and dwellings, so the new description was as follows:
"Redevelopment of the site to provide a residential-led, mixed use scheme comprising residential dwellings (C3); together with flexible retail / restaurant / public house / wine bar floorspace (use classes A1, A2, A3, A4); upgraded Thames Path; works of repair and alterations to the river wall; associated hard and soft landscaping, public and private open space, new public realm, pedestrian and cycle routes, vehicular access and servicing facilities, car parking and cycle parking."
However, the application also sought to vary the wording of Condition no. 2 to insert the components, already approved in the original application, including 3,045sqm of flexible floorspace, 239 dwellings, 213 vehicle parking spaces and 556 cycle parking spaces.
This new application was approved in December 2019 with the planners stating: "It is not considered that the proposed amendments would be a significant or material
change to the overall scheme."
Currys PC World is the last of the three large local stores on both sides of the Thames to announce plans to close ahead of sites being redeveloped.
The B&Q store on Smugglers Way closed in October, with planning permission already granted for demolition of the existing retail buildings and phased construction of 13 residential blocks ranging from 8 to 15 storeys, housing over 500 new homes, plus business/retail/restaurant space.
The Homecase store across the road on Swandon Way also faces closure, with developer Legal and General submitting a new application making variations to the permission already granted to demolish the building and redevelop the site creating three building ranging from eight to 17 storeys high.
The new plans would include increasing the number of new homes from 385 to 462 , making changes to car and cycle parking space and increasing playspacce plus public open spaces.
January 30, 2020