A planning application to convert an old police station in Hampton into homes and a car park has been approved.

Greg Pitt of architecture firm Barton Willmore applied in February, 2016, to partially demolish the rear of the listed Edwardian police station in Station Road in order to construct 28 homes and provide 40 car parking spaces.

According to the applicant, the red brick building, which was constructed in 1905, will “remain at the heart of the new development”.

Since 2016, some objected to the application citing an increase in traffic during and after construction, not enough parking being allocated, not enough affordable housing and the appearance of the proposed development not being in keeping with the “village feel” in the area.

Although seven per cent was originally allocated, there will now be no affordable housing available. 

A major issue people had was that it will be a “gated” development, with 14 of the 28 homes “set back from Station Road around a new private courtyard” which Iain Flynn and Debra Flynn, who live on Station Road, said was “distinctly un-Hampton and distinctly unwelcome”.

Richmond and Twickenham Times: The proposed courtyard 

However, Neale Brickwood, who also lives on the road, welcomed the development.

He said: “For too long this site has been neglected and left in a state of disrepair.

“It is a prominent site in the centre of the village and the scheme being proposed by this application will offer a huge improvement to the centre of Hampton whilst providing much-needed new homes for the area.

“The application offers generous parking provision, desperately-needed financial contributions to the council along with employment opportunities.”

Residents with businesses on the road said the development would increase footfall in the area.

Greg Pitt, Associate Planner at Barton Willmore, said: “The site presents what we believe to be an excellent opportunity to create a unique, quality sense of place which not only respects and responds to the rich context which the site has to offer, but through high quality architectural design and detailing, will enhance the local environment, at the same time giving new life to a building which has prime place within the Hampton Village townscape.”

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