Council likely to reject Tesco superstore plan

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Future of Hammersmith UCG cinema site remains uncertain

Campaigners are optimistic the plans to demolition buildings around the UCG cinema on King Street may not get off the ground.

The leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Andrew Slaughter, has reportedly said that a developer's proposal for the site will not be accepted by the Council.

The original proposal was made informally to the Council and is believed to involve the provision of some offices for the borough as well as a Tesco superstore and luxury apartments. The cinema site has been bought by property developer St. James's Investments and they were hoping to work in partnership with the Council which owns many of the adjacent properties including the existing Town Hall site.

The plans submitted by the developers proposed the demolition of existing residential properties in the area as well as a Quaker meeting house and the Thomas Pocklington Trust home for the visually impaired.

The Council contacted residents likely to be affected by the scheme and the result was a furious response with over 200 residents attending a meeting at the Rivercourt Methodist Church. This joined by actress Vanessa Redgrave, who lives locally, who urged a boycott of Tescos if the plan were to proceed.

Local MP Iain Coleman has joined the campaign against the plan saying it is a non-starter. However, one local resident remains unconvinced that the plans are dead saying, "This original proposal was so outrageous it was obviously never going to go-ahead particularly with an election looming but I believe it is highly likely that the developers will follow up with another proposal which looks acceptable only when viewed next to the original one. That way it looks like they are making concessions to the community."

September 11, 2004