Long-running plans for the £110m makeover of Hammersmith town centre could be forced to be redrawn for a third time after as many as 200 letters of protest were lodged.
King Street Developments – a joint venture between Helical Bar and Grainger – and the local council have been trying to transform the area around the listed Town Hall building since 2007.
Initial plans for a new public square surrounded by cafés and restaurants, 320 homes, a new council HQ and a supermarket were submitted in March 2010 but were rejected after 700 objection letters were lodged.
The latest proposals were submitted in August this year and include plans to knock down three buildings on the King Street site and replace them with four mixed-use blocks, ranging from nine to 15 storeys and comprising 290 flats, shops and offices. A 21,527 sq ft supermarket is also planned for the site.
However, campaign group Save Our Skyline claimed to have collected 140 letters opposing the scheme by 28 September. The group said it expected to have submitted a further 100 letters ahead of Hammersmith & Fulham council’s 30 September consultation deadline.
Save our Skyline is opposing the demolition of the local cinema and the Thomas Pockington Trust buildings as well the density and height of the development.
Nick Bastin, one of the campaign leaders, said: “There is tremendous objection to this scheme The height and density of these proposed buildings is out of scene for the area.”
The group said it had set up a fund to take the council to court if the current scheme gets approval and that it would potentially seek a judicial review.
David Walters, director of King Street Developments, said: “We understand that not everyone agrees with the design approach, but we are concerned that there are some misrepresentations about the scheme being made. From the wider public, we have had support.”
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
