News detail

Big ideas for Brentford

- 15-Jul-2005
Discussion on the Brentford Plan gets into gear in this weeks local newspaper, the Brentford Chiswick & Isleworth Times. See associated article here.

As a town steeped in history, Brentford has seen many developments over the centuries, from Roman settlements to fast food outlets.

However, when compared to the borough's three principal town centres - Chiswick, Feltham and Hounslow - Brentford seems to have been bypassed as a town for innovative shopping, eating and entertainment possibilities.

Chiswick is a long established centre, with its close proximity to the city giving it a strong cosmopolitan feel, while Hounslow and Feltham have been targeted for massive redevelopment in order to make them busy hubs for both residents and visitors.

Fortunately the tide is now turning for Brentford and Hounslow Council is looking to bring out the potential that the town has to offer.

Its riverside location means it is an ideal place for luxury housing developments - or conservation projects.

The easy access it offers to central London means it would be perfect for young singletons' looking for the delights of city living but at an affordable price - or families where the adults must commute to work but want to let their children grow up in a greener environment.

These contrasting visions of Brentford's future mean it is essential that those living and working both in the town and in the borough have their say on how they want the area to develop.

Consultation work is currently underway on the Brentford Plan, giving you the opportunity to voice views on how the area should continue to develop.

Cllr John Chatt, executive for positive regeneration, explains: "The plan will give guidance when new planning proposals come before the council. It is looking at Brentford in a holistic way, about the way in which Brentford will develop.

"There are lots of developers who are interested in Brentford and it is important that we take into account what they want, but also what residents want. I would always be insistent that we have a good period of consultation, especially with the Brentford Plan. Forms have been sent out and hopefully residents will now send us their observations."

So what do residents think of Brentford? Most are proud to live in the town, although they still feel there is room for improvement.

Mark Middleton Smith believes that particular attention needs to be paid to the abandoned factory buildings that blight the area: "Brentford is an area with a unique history, being one of the earliest points of canal development, and its industrial heritage is everywhere to be seen - from when you turn left after Kew bridge up until the end of the Syon Park Estate.

"But too many of its old factories and warehouses are just ruined slum heaps with no effort being put in to either preserve and improve the site or redevelop it. It's as if the owners don't care about their eyesores and are just waiting until they get the best deal from a government sponsored regeneration package. In the meantime, it is the local population and the tourists who have to suffer this terrible landscape."

He added: "There has to be a proper UDP commitment /local development framework to upgrade these old buildings, making Brentford a place to be proud of once again, which in turn will invite development and regeneration eventually leading to more firms opening up their offices."

However, Simon Foster, from Adelaide Terrace, believes that the qualities of existing buildings should be assessed before they are torn down by those wishing to erect towers of steel and glass offices.

"There are currently some interesting examples of 1920s and 1930s architecture in Commerce Road. Considering how many of the buildings of this period in the area have been demolished recently, maybe the council should look into listing them - this would put a spanner in the works of the developers," he says.

With the possibility of new housing developments, Hornbeam Crescent resident Keith Iddon suggests that the key is improving the amenities and aesthetics of the High Street, with the emphasis on creating a community feel in the area.

"I think we need to encourage small shops, particularly butchers and bakers, to open up on the High Street," he says.

"Perhaps they could have reduced business rates for three or four years to help them. I would suggest that if they are thinking of pedestrianising the High Street, they should take a look at how threatening and intimidating Hounslow is at night and if they're thinking of allowing late night chicken or kebab take-aways or grocery shops, to take a look at Hanwell broadway after 10pm."

Nigel Moore is the owner of Ridegway boatyard and has seen Brentford change over the years.

According to Nigel, the disproportionate amount of luxury housing that is being built in Brentford is putting too much of a strain on the local resources, and is preventing affordable housing from being built.

He adds: "Doubtless everyone will wish to see an enlivened town centre, with appropriate retail outlets to cover all the immediate needs of the community, with a focus both visual and practical.

"For such a vision to succeed though, the economy, population make-up and services must blend in correct proportion.

"Brentford's success has always been owed to its location as a nexus of land and water transport with, both production and marketing fulfilling the needs of a widely varied society.

"The trend over decades has been to diminish this rich variety, with accelerating emphasis on a disproportionate level of luxury housing.

"If Brentford is to avoid becoming a commuter ghetto reliant on outside support structures, commercial employment areas must be guarded against the often artificial throttling of their viability by owners desirous of transforming them into more immediately profitable housing developments."

Nigel has been an ardent campaigner against the proposed development on the Kew Bridge Scottish Widow site, but also points to developments on the south of the High Street and Commerce Road as ones which are stifling Brentford's lifeblood - the river.

Nigel says: "Both traditional employment areas for centuries, Commerce Road being considerably younger, all indigenous employment and small to large businesses are to be swept away wholesale. Not only will this have a terrible effect on local economic infrastructure, the very character of Brentford will be finally eviscerated.

"Only massive local support for the waterways to become once again a vibrant, living artery for transport both leisure and commercial, will save them and whatever adjacent regeneration eventuates, from an inevitable sterility that will diminish the very value that developers hope for."

To have your say on the Brentford Plan visit www.hounslow.gov.uk or call 020 8583 5202. Views are being sought until July 25.

Source: Sally Henfield, Brentford Chiswick & Isleworth Times

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