This is the view from the top floor looking north. The futuristic office building on the left is The Ark. To the right, the chocolate and white striped building is a Novotel.
In front of that is a light brown brick structure with green copper roofing. This was built on the site of a police car pound in the 1980s to house the West London Magistrates’ Court. I have never been inside and now am unlikely to as it closed earlier this year and will be demolished for redevelopment. It’s a real shocker. Try this on for size:
Opportunity to create a landmark building on this highly-visible gateway site located adjacent to London’s principal east-west arterial route.
Opportunity to significantly increase the massing on the site given precedent for tall buildings in the immediate locality.
Potential for significant additional income generation via highly visible digital advertising screens.
HIGH RISE RESIDENTIAL OPTION
The proposed high-rise residential scheme is made up of a lower eight storey building and a taller 22 storey tower connected by a ground floor podium level.
At the end of next week there will be an exhibition showing the proposed development by Dominvs Group. Their development “will include two complimentary hotels in addition to significant community benefits such as new public realm, affordable workspace, bar and restaurant facilities and event space”. Good grief; highly visible gateway site, massing, highly visible advertising … I might as well move to Times Square.
Look at the bright side. With all these developments happening some developer will soon set his eyes on the ghastly garage/storage building next to you and construct hopefully an all together more exclusive high-end market apartment project………….
As it happens I like the car wash and definitely do not desire a block of flats overlooking summer lunches in the garden and blocking the north light.
I’ve been struggling to understand what is meant by ‘complimentary hotels’ but think they must be ‘complementary hotels’. Christopher, perhaps you should offer your services to developers’ blurb writers.
The real scandal is that a taxpayer-funded building erected 30 years ago is being summarily demolished. Where is the longevity and sustainability in our public realm estate? This is happening all over London where new building projects now have minimal lifespans and little thought is given to change of use: ‘Build ’em up, and pull ’em down.’