Brentford Marina Scheme Revised After Public Feedback

Plans for the redevelopment to be submitted later this year

Revised plans for the redevelopment of the waterside area of Watermans Park are to be submitted for approval. Some amendments have been made to the original proposals following a consultation and series of exhibitions.

The Council now intend prepare a planning application for the site in to be submitted later this year. The original schedule envisaged the new marina opening in 2017.

Watermans Park after the development

There were sixty comments on the proposals which the Council say divide up evenly between positive, negative and neutral. The main objections that people had related to the impact the plan would have on the character and identity of the marina, the project cost and the effect on existing residents.

The Project Team say they have considered the comments received and conducted discussions with a number of statutory consultees, such as the Port of London Authority, Environment Agency and Marine Management Organisation.

One of the most significant changes is a reduction in the size of the car park the boundary of which has been set back by 9 metres and now has space for 14 cars. There will be an outdoor community café between Waterman’s Art Centre and the park plus space provided for outdoor events with an open air stage. Grass terraces and new modern seating will provide views down to the river and across to Kew Gardens.

New design has a smaller car park

There are concerns among the existing residents of houseboats in the area that draconian rules on the presentation of their homes may disqualify them from regaining a mooring when the marina is developed. All the existing boats are set to be evicted when work starts but the Council is saying that they will accept applications from them to return. However the boats will be required to be ‘in a good state of decorative repair’ and some current residents are worried that the new mooring charges will be too high for many current residents to come back.

The Council say they still want to hear the opinions of local people which can be given by completing the feedback form at www.hounslow.gov.uk/consultations or sending comments to: watermans.marina@hounslow.gov.uk.

All comments must be received by 7th July 2015.

June 26, 2015