Homes' plan 'ruins views'

10:26am Friday 7th March 2008

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Controversial plans to extend a housing development in Hampton Wick would have a detrimental impact on visual amenities in the area, according to council officers recommending the proposal be rejected.

Linden Homes applied to Richmond Council to alter a plan to build 198 apartments as well as a crèche and nursing home, alongside additional retail and office space, on a former gas works in Sandy Lane known as the Jewson site, which had been approved in 2005.

The developer applied to alter the scheme, initially seeking permission for 238 units and hoping to build a six-storey block overlooking Bushy Park before amending the application to a maximum height of five storeys and reducing the number of homes by four.

The proposal is set to go before Richmond Council's planning committee on Thursday, March 13, and officers have recommended councillors turn it down.

The plans have been criticised by cross-party politicians, the Royal Parks, residents and groups including the Hampton Wick Association and Teddington Society. But Mayor of London Ken Livingstone told Richmond Council he approved the plan for 238 flats.

Should the plans be rejected, it is expected an appeal would be heard by the national Planning Inspectorate at a further meeting on April 23 and 24.