MP: More flats on site not wanted

1:15pm Monday 7th May 2007

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Furious residents, councillors and Twickenham's MP are set to join forces to prevent the "overdevelopment" of a former gas works in Hampton Wick.

Plans to redevelop the area on Sandy Lane, which is known locally as the Jewson site, were agreed 18 months ago but proposals from Linden Homes, the landowner, to alter the design has caused a new furore.

Richmond upon Thames Council approved a plan to build 198 apartments, as well as a crèche and nursing home, alongside additional retail and office space, but Vincent Cable, MP for Twickenham, revealed the company wants to build 40 more.

After meeting with the developers and residents last week he said he was appalled plans were being changed in order to raise more money.

"It was put to us by the new owners that even more shareholder value can be squeezed from the site - alongside higher environmental standards in the houses," he said.

But Linden Homes, under new parent company Galliford Try, claimed the changes have been mooted to increase the energy efficiency and sustainability of the site.

Councillor Tony Arbour, ward councillor and the borough's Greater London Assembly member, pledged to oppose the expansion but feared the Mayor of London would offer his support as he had already agreed to support a scheme of 229 flats on the site in Febraury 2005.

"It is likely if a new scheme of 238 units is coming, the mayor will support it," he said.

"This is already a major overdevelopment and any increase will add insult to injury by putting pressure on an infrastructure which is already overstrained."

Dr Cable said: "Residents are, rightly, furious their trust and goodwill have been thrown back in their faces. Adding an extra 100 people and cars will stretch even further the local infrastructure, with congested roads and schools already full to overflowing.

"There is also a potentially very serious problem that the height of the new buildings will increase two storeys in one block and potentially ruin the view from Bushy Park. I have no doubt there will be a battle over the new proposals and I shall fully support the local residents."

The developers said new plans would build on the existing scheme with 40 new units, including some affordable housing, and improvements in energy efficiency and sustainability.

The new proposals include a community heating system using renewable energy sources, local electricity generation, potentially using wind turbines, thermal solar water heating, to pre-heat the water for the community heating system, and a reduction in carbon emissions by 45 per cent.

Galliford Try said it does not want to miss the opportunity to make this scheme an example and set new standards, and it had plans to plant trees in Bushy Park, contribute to local schools and create a more sympathetic design.

Paul Cooper, managing director of Linden Homes South East, said: "As developers we have to take a responsible attitude towards the environment. The proposals offer an opportunity to create a landmark scheme for the borough.

"We have tried to sympathetically design the proposals to minimise the impact on the local community where possible. We have and will continue to engage the community and council officers as the scheme is developed."

A Richmond council spokesman said: "The council's planning department has not been contacted by the site owner with regard to increasing the number of units.

"Should this be forthcoming, a new planning application would be required and this would be subject to full public consultation."