Forum Topic

Windmill Road W5 Development

Although the planning application has been slid through the back door at Hounslow Council, this will affect Ealing residents.It is for several Hi-Rise apartments for 1000 peopleThis is yet another Croydon like development that is rapidly scarring and damaging the local environs, quality of life and not bringing any residential benefit locally.This development however, will probably affect residents of South Ealing and Old Brentford which of course, lay in two boroughs.Currently there are 2 major developments in process within a third of a mile. One of which is only half completed and has already caused parking and service problems radiating over a third of a mileWhen finished the population will rise artificially by several thousand pushing the local population way beyond the infrastructure to service the local populus.Roads, schools, health services buses and energy & water services are already overstretched with no provision to provide permanent resolutions. In fact, it is largely not possible without penalising the existing residential populationTo top it all, this will result in another huge loss of small industry facilities which has in the last few years forced many businesses to leave the district and reduce significantly opportunities for local employment and rendering it almost impossible for the possibility of small businesses to start and develop.Once again, Greed is the prime mover here and it is a pure myth that this is to help those who need a home in the district. As we all know, those genuine locals will still not be able to afford to move in and like most other developments, 90% will be in the hands of buy to let and multiple landlords.As the application went in on the quiet, objections need to be made by 4th of July toHounslows planning dept>Nikolas.Smith@hounslow.gov.uk Plans can be seen at Brentford Library if it's ever open!

Michael Brandt ● 5404d11 Comments

No-one knew about the application until a local resident found out by chance. No notifications were placed in the usual manner -if they were they were swiftly removed.The high rise blocks are not in the immediate vicinity but are right against the A4 flyover.The local buildings are 2 and 3 storey and the factory that originally occupied the site was 3 storeys in part including the serated roof.A neighbourhood does not have to be "Regency Bath'. Although densely populated It has a civic pride with generally well kept properties and a well maintained council estate all of which are not overlooked or dominated by high buildings.Penalising the population? Pretty obvious, CPZ's, no leisure facilities, pressure on the already few health facilities and schools with no more space. Demand exceeding supply resulting in those who have paying and those who do not.Those less well off (and there are a fair few around here) will find themselves even further down the queue.As for the Section 106 affordable housing, Poor quality tokenism for which there is no excuse. Affordable housing need not be crap but everything built under section 106 is exactly that. Brownfield sites are equally important, if we shoehorn in more and more dwellings, where do you think all these people will work? We cannot all work for GSK. What if GSK pull out of Brentford? 8000 jobs 4600 of which are local employees.Bottom line is, Town's full and what's left parks or brownfield sites need to be evaluated properly as to the best use. And ring fenced to remain for purpose.Reynards is a prime example, either dwellings that match the surrounding stock (which is in high demand) or low cost non-office business facilities which is declining hugely despite high demand but landlords are demanding rents and govt rates that are making many small industries non viable.

Michael Brandt ● 5403d