Chiswick Redevelopment Sparks Heritage Concerns, Approved Conditionally

Hounslow Council's Planning Committee has conditionally approved the redevelopment of 1 Burlington Lane in Chiswick, despite concerns raised by heritage organisations.

The proposal involves demolishing the existing five-storey office building and constructing a part-6, part-10 storey building with 132 flats and flexible commercial space. The development also includes associated car parking, amenity space, landscaping, and public realm improvements, including planting trees, new paving to the front of the building, and improved access to the pedestrian underpass¹.

According to the Public reports pack, the maximum height of the tallest building would be 34.96m. A six-storey block is planned for the Hogarth Roundabout frontage, a three-storey block at the Palladian Garden frontage, and a ten-storey element fronting onto Burlington Lane. A one-storey podium level garden is proposed at the centre of the site.

The development aims for a 71.3% reduction in regulated CO2 emissions, surpassing the 10% Biodiversity Net Gain requirement with tree planting and landscaping.

However, the project has faced objections from Historic England, the GLA Good Growth team, and the Council Conservation team due to its impact on nearby heritage assets. These include the Old Chiswick Conservation Area, St Nicholas Church, and Chiswick House and Gardens. The report pack notes that the Scheme would have less than substantial harm to the setting of heritage assets nearby, including Old Chiswick Conservation Area, St Nicholas Church and Chiswick House and Gardens, with a varied degree of harm, ranging from low to middle. The specific concerns of each group are detailed in the report for 1 Burlington Lane, starting on page 27 of the Public reports pack.

The Planning Committee ultimately recommended approval, subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 Agreement² and a Section 278 Agreement³. The specific conditions are listed in the report for 1 Burlington Lane, starting on page 124 of the Public reports pack. Details of the Section 106 and Section 278 Agreements are listed in the report for 1 Burlington Lane, starting on page 121 of the Public reports pack.

Following the Council's decision, the application must be referred to the Mayor of London for him to determine whether he is content for the Council to determine the application, direct its refusal or if he wishes to determine it himself. The specific timeline for this referral and subsequent decision-making process is not detailed in the Public reports pack.