Move To Make Homebase Tower a Listed Building

Petition launched to protect the Sir Nicholas Grimshaw designed structure

A possible move by a Minister to clear the path for the demolition of the tower at the Homebase store site in Brentford has prompted a campaign to ensure its protection.

Historic England believe that the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is currently considering whether a Certificate of Immunity for the Homebase building should be issued. It is possible that, if this were to be granted, it would block the possibility of the building being listed.

Therefore the Osterley & Wyke Green Residents' Association (OWGRA) is promoting a petition asking Historic England to add the Grimshaw Homebase Tower to their Listed Buildings Register.

They say this ‘innovative and award-winning building’ is one of several iconic structures in Sir Nicholas Grimshaw's portfolio. Along with the grade-II listed Gillette building opposite, it forms a landmark gateway to the Brentford Golden Mile. In 2019, Sir Nicholas, now 80, received the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects for his lifetime architectural achievements.

The Homebase store, Brentford was built between 1987 and 1988. Contemporary articles noted that Grimshaw had modelled the building on an Italian biplane of the late 1920s which he had seen whilst flicking through a design magazine. However later accounts of the practice's work played down this visual reference. The completed building won several awards, including one from the British Construction Industry (1988) and a Structural Steel Design Award (1989). It also featured in an exhibition of the practice's work held at the RIBA in 1988.

From the early 1990s Grimshaw came to popular attention with flagship projects such as the British Pavilion for the Seville Expo of 1992 for which he was awarded a CBE and the Grandstand to Lord’s Cricket Ground (1998) and the Waterloo Eurostar terminus (commissioned 1988, built 1990-3).

OWGRA ask that any signatures should be submitted by Sunday 15 September at the latest so that they can collate all the responses.

They are requesting that you ask your neighbours and local residents to sign the petition in paper form or on-line, as the more signatures the better.

If you would like to pick up some pre-printed petition forms, contact them by e-mail on Info@owgra.org.uk. There is also a form that you can print off and return to OWGRA as instructed on the form.

September 5, 2019