Barratt has submitted plans for a mixed-use scheme including 1,000 homes at Wallis House (pictured) on Great West Road in Brentford, a former factory that is regarded as a west London landmark.
The 20th Century Society has endorsed the planned conversion of Wallis House, also known as Smith Kline Beecham House, which has been unused for several years.
Several previous plans to refurbish or demolish the building, including a design by Richard Rogers Partnership, have fallen through in the last few years.
Glaxo Smith Kline tried to sell the site for several years, but commercial developers were reluctant to bid.
Barratt’s scheme, designed by Assael Architecture, will include offices, leisure and 1,000 flats.
Twentieth Century Society caseworker Cordula Zeidler said: “We welcome with enthusiasm its proposed restoration and conversion into flats.
“Assael have drawn up a sensitive and innovative scheme that respects the outstanding qualities of this massive yet carefully proportioned building.
“Wallis House was built between 1936 and 1942, mainly to designs of Wallis, Gilbert & Partners. It is listed and forms part of a whole series of important factory buildings by the same architects on Great West Road, some of whom have been demolished in the past decades, including the Firestone Factory of 1928.
“Wallis House is part of an era of industrial prosperity, which gave birth to great architecture.”
References: EGi News 30/04/04
