Greater London Authority forces rethink of Hammersmith Town Hall redevelopment

The plans will have to be altered to take account of the Greater London Authority's concerns, despite the fact the regeneration proposals had been approved by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF).

“We got it wrong with the previous King Street proposals and we have learned from it. We guarantee the tallest buildings in a new scheme will not exceed the height of the existing town hall extension," said Nicholas Botterill, LBHF leader.

The historic regeneration proposals had been approved by the LBHF's Planning  Committee in November 2011, but the referral to the Mayor of London was withdrawn in December when it became clear that the Greater London Authority had concerns over the proposed height of two of the residential blocks and the resulting impact on views from across the river.

The proposals for the regeneration of the extension to Hammersmith Town Hall will be revised by the Council and KSD to find a "viable and deliverable scheme". The Council will look at consultation responses from residents' groups and amenity societies to find an acceptable solution, it said.

"Residents will be at the heart of new proposals to regenerate the area around Hammersmith Town Hall, with a height limit of eight storeys a ‘cast iron guarantee’," said Botterill. ["The revised scheme would not be higher than the existing Hammersmith town hall extension meaning that eight storeys would be a maximum possible height."

The height proposed in the original scheme was a "mistake", the Council said, and was a result of the Council's office space requirements at the time and the impact from the economic downturn on residential values.

KSD will be reviewing the scheme over the coming months and a further consultation with residents’ and amenity groups will follow later in the year, the Council said.

"With this pragmatic approach on their accommodation needs being taken by the Council we are confident that a revised solution can be found that responds to concerns over height and massing," said Matthew Bonning-Snook from KSD. “Meanwhile good progress is being made with a new meeting house being designed for The Friends on a nearby site.”