News detail

Barratt desperate to be grave diggers

- 21-Mar-2005
Developers Barratt submitted a planning application to demolish St George's Church (the current Music Museum) and replace it with 19 apartments, in keeping with the new Capital West development that now surrounds the church. This application was thankfully refused by the Hounslow Council Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) but Barratt have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against that decision.

Many local individuals and groups protested successfully to convince the SDC Brentford does not need to demolish it's heritage to satisfy the desires of the developers, who have ample opportunity to construct literally thousands of apartments within two miles of St George's Church. But these large sites are not enough for the profit margins of the developers, no. There wasn't even a plan for suitable re-use of St George's Church - the planning application only considered demolition - obviously more profitable to demolish than to re-use.

No they will put profit before the remains of the 2299 deceased buried in the church grounds which was planned to be an underground car park, and before the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) along with other planning statements listing St George's Church as a Landmark building. Then they will take the Council to task when they don't get their way. If the Council can't protect the heritage of Brentford then who can?

That aside we thank you for any support to date and urge you all to write any further items and comments that may contribute to keeping this heritage building safe for Brentord's future, so it shall have one that is a mix of the old and new.

Please send 3 copies of any additional information you feel could help to save the church quoting 00607/367-368/P10 to arrive by 19 April 2005 to:

Rachel Owen
The Planning Inspectorate
Room 3/14 Eagle Wing
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6PN

To see the history of St George's Church click here.
To review a transcription of the London Metropolitan Archives document identifying deceased in the church grounds click here (pdf).

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