Latest goings on in Hammersmith & Fulham ....
King Street Plans unveiled...
Tuesday June 1, 2010
Residents can view the draft plans to breathe new life into the west end of King Street on:
Thursday, 10 June, between 2-8pm, outside Hammersmith Town Hall on King Street
Friday, 11 June, between 12-6pm, at Lyric Square on King Street
Saturday, 12 June, between 10am-4pm, at Lyric Square on King Street.
Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council is hoping to regenerate the area around the ugly extension of Hammersmith town hall and save taxpayers’ cash by creating a new public square and buildings around the original town hall.
King Street Developments (KSD) Limited – which is a company set up by Grainger and Helical Bar to work with the council on the regeneration plans – has drawn up proposals to replace the 1960s town hall extension with a brand new public square. See (http://www.kingstreetregeneration.co.uk/)
The town hall extension has been voted the ugliest building in the borough and the new square would open up views of the art deco façade of the original town hall and be the centrepiece of the ambitious regeneration project, according to KSD. The move would also allow the steps of the original grade two listed town hall to be reinstated.
In addition to creating new restaurants, shops, homes, and offices to the west of the original town hall, the draft ideas also include a futuristic, step-free bridge over the A4 that would once again link Hammersmith town centre with the picturesque Furnival Gardens. The new bridge and access to the park would create new views of the River Thames across Furnival Gardens.
As well as regenerating the west end of King Street the plans would create new civic offices which would be more environmentally friendly than the current concrete extension. The modern offices and new one stop shop – with improved customer facilities for residents – would allow the council to save millions of pounds of taxpayers’ cash as council officers, who are currently dotted around the borough in costly leased buildings, could be relocated into the more central and efficient Hammersmith campus.
Cllr Mark Loveday, H&F Council Cabinet Member for Strategy, says:
“King Street needs a kick start if we are going to make Hammersmith town centre great again. In previous consultations residents have said the final scheme should establish the west end of King Street as a truly desirable place in which to live, work and shop. On top of the regeneration of King Street we also have a duty to save taxpayers money where we can.”
The information events will be held over three days across two locations in Hammersmith town centre between June 10-12.
KSD is expected to submit a planning application to the council in the summer. At that stage the formal consultation with residents would begin before the council’s planning committee considers the application.
Councillor Loveday continues: “We have had many meetings with interested groups in the area and this final exhibition is the last chance for residents to see the plans before King Street Developments submits a planning application. I would encourage all residents to come and have a look ahead of the formal consultation on the planning application later this year.”
David Walters, speaking on behalf of KSD, said: “We’re delighted that we’re now on the verge of submitting a planning application. Since we were selected as the council’s development partner in 2008, we have carried out extensive consultation with stakeholders and members of the public, and we feel that the final proposals will deliver the whole scale regeneration benefits required in this part of King Street. We look forward to welcoming the local community to see our final proposals and hearing their views on the design options for linking the new footbridge with Furnival Gardens.”
The information events take place on:
Thursday, 10 June, between 2-8pm, outside Hammersmith Town Hall on King Street
Friday, 11 June, between 12-6pm, at Lyric Square on King Street
Saturday, 12 June, between 10am-4pm, at Lyric Square on King Street.