Shepherd's Bush Road Set for Major Shake Up
With new businesses, developments opening and facelifts for historic landmarks
Shepherd's Bush Road is undergoing a major shake up, with the arrival of a range of new businesses, developments being completed and millons being invested in refurbishing historic Hammersmith landmarks.
The road's transformation began at the end of July with the arrival of popular Japanese style restaurant and bar Wagamama on the site of the Old Fire Station pub, which had been empty since last December.
This is the noodle chain's 100th restaurant, the third to open in our borough and the first in London to include a bar offering cocktails with a Japanese twist. Perhaps most important of all, the restaurant has created 43 local jobs.
It will be followed next month by the opening of Pure Hammersmith, a development of 418 students' flats built by Pure Student Living on the site of the now demolished Hammersmith Palais. Though this new building is still currently shrouded in scaffolding, the company say it will be ready for the first residents to check in on September 16.
Next month will also see the opening of upmarket estate agent Savills' new Brook Green office, situated literally opposite Brook Green at 166 Shepherd's Bush Road. This building too, is still under wraps but the agent says it will open on September 2.
A second estate agent, Aston Rowe, has applied to Hammersmith and Fulham Council to change the use of a site at 82 Shepherd's Bush Road, on the corner of Melose Gardens from a shop to an office.
The agent, which is already well established in Acton, says it aims to provide a values service to local residents and businesses and to contribute to the vitality of Shepherd's Bush Road shopping parade. A decision is expected from the council within the next few weeks.
Further along the parade, Sainsbury's has been granted permission to build a Local convenience store on currently vacant premises at 48 - 50 Shepherd's Bush Road. Work on the store is expected to begin shortly, with the supermarket promising a development that "maintains and improves the character and appearance of the area by providing a sympathetic and proportionate shopfront which is in keeping with the character of the area".
In May, Hammersmith and Fulham Council's planning applications committee gave its approval to an application to add a three storey extension to the Access Self Storage building at 184 Shepherds Bush Road, opposite Brook Green, and to change the building’s use from storage to offices.
Now DunnHumby, which specialises in ‘customer science’, has signed a 15 year lease to move into site and plans to relocated 1,000 employees from Ealing to Hammersmith.
Founded in 1989, DunnHumby analyse data from more than 400 million customers across the globe to create better customer experiences.
The Grade II listed building, which was built in 1916 and is famous for being a Ford and Citroen garage and showroom, has been an Access Self Storage facility for the last 23 years. The building, opposite Little Brook Green Hammersmith, will be converted into high quality office with a stunning glazed roof top before the team move in.
Mark Powell from DunnHumby said: "Working with an architect and developer we were able to design a space in this unique building which perfectly suits our occupational requirements and is very similar to the offices we are refurbishing in Cincinnati. Hammersmith is also an excellent location and ensures good accessibility for our staff, suppliers and customers."
Roy Collado from architects Collado Collins said: "This is an exciting and sensitive reimagining of an important local landmark. When it was built in 1915/6, records indicate that the original plan was for it to be taller, but the First World War shortage of cement meant it stopped at three storeys, so in a way we are finishing off the building a century later."
Two other local landmarks are also about to undergo major transformations. Work is due to begin later this year on the £2 million refurbishment of Hammersmith Library which the council says will " take the best elements of the 1905 Grade II listed Hammersmith Library and combine it with the modern feel of the new and hugely popular Shepherd's Bush Library".
Improvements will include new books,self-service terminals,Wi-Fi and better access for disabled people. The borough’s archives and local studies collection, currently housed at the Lila Huset on Talgarth Road, will also be housed at the refurbished Hammersmith Library, with greatly increased public access.
Brook Green itself is also receiving a facelift, with plans for a new pavilion included in the council's refurbishment programme for parks across the borough. This follows the opening of a new adventure playground in November last year.
At the opening Susannah Frieze of the Friends of Brook Green, said: " Now that we’ve got the playground re-designed, landscaped and beautifully fitted-out, we will move on to consulting residents and workers, awareness-raising and fund-raising for a new pavilion and improving the lighting, security and amenities of this beautiful corner of Hammersmith."
August 9, 2013
