The two acre vacant plot at the northwest corner of Kew Bridge is known as the Scottish Widows site after the insurance company which was the last owner of the 1959 office block which occupied it for more than twenty years. The site was largely cleared in 1992 and it has lain vacant as developers, the public and Hounslow council argued about what to put there. Now, plans are due to be submitted to Hounslow for a development of 176 residential units, some shops and restaurants, a new public open space down to the towpath and a new pub to replace the Waggon and Horses, currently on Kew Bridge Road, which will be demolished. If all goes as the developers hope, building work could start work in Summer 2008. These pages will keep you up to date on the progress of this development and give some history about the site and its context.
The site was bought in 2003 by St George West London Ltd, a subsidiary of St George plc, a development company which specialises in residential development particularly on sites near the River Thames. Hounslow council, backed by local residents, rejected St George's first plan for the site which would have squeezed 238 residential units and some office and shop accommodation onto what was then 1.8 acres. For this second attempt St George commissioned architects John Thompson & Partners which has conducted detailed consultation with the local community. Click on the pictures or links below to find out more.
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Where is it? Location and footprint of the site |
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What will it look like? Plans, models, and simulated photographs of how the new buildings will look. |
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Will it fit in? Context of the site with its surroundings |
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What was there before? History of the site including an archaeological dig |
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What do you think? How to make your views known and the timetable for the process |
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Comments. Views on the site submitted to the architect, the developer or Hounslow council are brought together here. |
