But Council Says Plans Breathe New Life into King Street
Green light given to scheme at "lively meeting" on Wednesday
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has said plans to redevelop the area around the Town Hall will breathe new life into the west end of King Street and create a new public square and 290 new homes, after approving the plans on Wednesday.
Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council’s planning applications committee gave the green light for the plans, from King Street Developments Ltd (KSD), at a lively meeting at Latymer School on Wednesday November 30.
The planning approval now paves the way for KSD to demolish the ugly Town Hall extension, which is coming to the end of its life, and regenerate a run-down corner of the borough with new public spaces, shops, homes and offices.
The package of improvements that will now be delivered by KSD includes:
- 290 new homes built around a new public square that will be ideal for farmers markets, Christmas fairs and numerous other events such as open air cinema
- A new step-free bridge sweeping into Furnivall Gardens to reconnect the high street with the river which has been cut off by the six lane A4 since the 1970s
- A new community supermarket and a range of new restaurants and other retailers, alongside a council ‘One Stop Shop’ and modern, energy efficient replacement offices
- Hundreds of much-needed new jobs in King Street
- Opening up the historic northern façade of the Grade II listed Hammersmith Town Hall so it is visible from King Street once more
- New offices for the council to replace the town hall extension, at no cost to the taxpayer.
- Earlier this year, KSD reduced the size of the scheme after the council requested a smaller office building and in response to consultation.
Cllr Mark Loveday, H&F Council Cabinet Member for Strategy, said: “This is excellent news for Hammersmith and it is good news that the plans, reduced by KSD in the summer, have now got the go ahead.
“It is good news for businesses in and around King Street which will get an economic shot in the arm when the project is complete. It is good news for people who are hoping to get onto the property ladder.
" And it is good news for taxpayers who will not need to find £18million to refurbish the ugly town hall extension."
The council claims that if the project had not received planning approval taxpayers would have been hit with a bill of around £18 million to move council staff temporarily while the extension was brought up to standard. The new modern building is expected to save around £150,000 in reduced energy costs and the council is retaining the freehold of the land.
The planning approval followed four years of public consultation with residents, amenity groups and other interested parties.
KSD expects building work to start within two years to allow adequate time for further consultation with existing residents and provide appropriate new accommodation for Thomas Pocklington Trust tenants.
December 1, 2011
