It used to be called the Cherry Blossom roundabout – not because of a profusion of flowering cherry trees but because of the proximity of a smelly shoe polish manufacturer: Cherry Blossom.
Now it’s called the Hogarth roundabout because William Hogarth’s 18th century house is nearby, as is Chiswick House and gardens and St Nicholas’s church where Hogarth is buried. You will recognise the roundabout which is where one road (Burlington Lane) leads to the M3 and another (Hogarth Lane) to the M4. You may recognise it because of the frail looking, single track flyover made of Meccano. So what better place to build a block of flats? So much culture on the doorstep for residents.
Is this a good wheeze or is it another blot on the already blotted landscape of Hounslow and Hammersmith?
“The council’s planning department’s report urges councillors on the committee to approve the scheme. While the harmful visual impact of the building is acknowledged, it is argued that this is outweighed by the benefits of the new housing.
Against this there have been objections from over 100 residents, the local MP Andy Slaughter, Historic England and a host of local residents’ groups and community organisations as well as the council’s own conservation officer.
Historic England said in its response to the application, “The large scale, bulk and massing of the proposed development would be entirely out of keeping with its historic surroundings, resulting in a considerable amount of harm to multiple heritage designations, including those of the highest significance. Therefore, Historic England strongly objects to these proposals and recommends that more modest forms of development are pursued for this site which would avoid harmful effects to this exceptionally historic part of Hounslow.” “ (chiswickw4.com)
Put simply, it is just too high. Nobody expects a building of great beauty on the site but it should not because of its height be so obtrusive. These intrusive developments cause incremental visual damage as one leads to justification for another.
“Nobody expects a building of great beauty on the site.” That says everything about modern architecture, as abetted by local authorities. Other countries manage to have distinguished modern buildings but British architects seem to be incapable of imagining them.