HOUNSLOW TOWN CENTRE VISIONS
Commonplace Consultation summary
February 2021 Introduction
Why are these projects happening? What did we ask you? We want our town centres to evolve, thrive and innovate in We asked residents to share their knowledge and ideas. order to meet current and future challenges, but we must strive This included identifying and mapping the key threats and for more. A modern town centre can play its part in mitigating opportunities for each town centre, and what a vision for climate change, economic inequality and even social injustice. their long-term future might be. All the while, we must never lose sight of existing town centre communities and adapting to welcoming new ones. We want When did we ask for comments? to support grassroot community projects and strong public- 3rd September - 8th November 2020 private partnerships, attracting investment and funding. What is in this document? We believe our town centres can offer an excellent range of A Commonplace map and survey was used to collect goods and services for visitors, a thriving trading environment comments. This document provides a summary of the for businesses and provide a good quality of life for their comments and ideas collected. Some questions were residents. We want a sustainable mix of uses, a well-connected multiple-choice whilst others prompted a descriptive transport network and an environment which promotes written response. These have all been read, recorded and biodiversity and healthy living. summarised.
Why are we creating these vision documents? How many people responded? By creating these documents, we can build a plan, based on Hounslow 177 all the stakeholders’ ambitions, and support the right kinds of Feltham 102 developments in the town centres. The visions will also ensure Brentford 167 that we are better placed to attract investment and funding to Chiswick 1435 make the plans happen. What happens next? The visions will be for Hounslow, Feltham, Brentford and We have been using your comments to develop a vision for Chiswick town centres. each town centre. We would now like your views on these emerging ideas. A survey will go live on Citizenspace and we are running public workshops for each town centre to discuss these ideas. The Vision documents will be published later in the Spring after feedback has been taken into account on the emerging ideas. Brentford town centre Brentford Mapped Responses
167Total comments Brentford How do you feel about the town centre?
Most popular responses... Least popular responses...
Poor shopping variety No open spaces 62% 11%
It is run down No family activities 59% 10%
Lacking facilities Easy to navigate 52% 6% Brentford Describe the ideal future town centre
example quotes... Needs better shopping... “One that has useful shops like banks and post office and proper supermarket not... tatty little corner shops and... take-away 56% places and tatty charity shops.” “Personable with small shops, cafes, green spaces and no more flats!!! The town is overpopulated and underfunded”
Needs better leisure / “Reflecting the unique and significantheritage of Brentford, culture... supporting local business and culture. Making it a positively idiosyncratic destination to attract enough visitors to 37% support a sustainable and diverse local retail and commercial economy.”
Improved quality of public “Waterman’s is a great facility highly valued but environment, realm... riverside and gardens are run down, dirty and disconnected and don’t connect with town centre except by 33% busy road with no greenery” Movement 30% Homes 14% Sense of community 24% Restaurants and bars 13% Quality of buildings 21% Employment 10% The town should have better... Greenery 14% Safety 3% Brentford How could we make it better?
Most popular responses... Least popular responses...
More greenery / planting More offices / workspace 65% 9%
More places to eat / socialise More housing 59% 7%
More retail Less retail 51% 1% Brentford Other comments
example quotes... Comments related to to many “Ensure new developments include plans for community flats.. spaces and facilities that are accessible to the whole 30% Brentford community” “I have always liked the fact that Brentford High St was low-rise, people sized. During lock down it has become increasingly clear that hell is a high rise flat with no accessible play areas for children. Small balconies are not enough for families.”
Comments related to a need “A well funded, well placed attractive (and safe!) museum I think for better leisure / culture... could be a great investment. It seems that there is such a richness of history in Brentford, with experts on the subject and local 27% artists, that there would be plenty of content to keep it fresh and attractive.”
Comments related to a need for better movement and “A strong link should be made between the river and the high connectivity ... 27% street.” Sense of community 32% Employment 16% Quality of public realm 24% Greenery 15% Shopping 21% F&B 7% Comments related to... Quality of buildings 16% Safety 5% Brentford Example comments
“A well funded, well placed museum could be a great investment. It seems that there is such a richness of history on Brentford, with experts on the subject and local artists, that there would be plenty of content to keep it fresh and attractive. If it could be co-located with an arts and cultural centre I believe it would attract visitors to the area and support local business and local employment opportunities.”
“Preserve the remaining older buildings and turn them into viable commercial of housing rather than demolishing and building unimaginative new stuff.”
“Less flats, more infrastructure tosupport a growing community”
“What town centre? A string of unoccupied retail premises & a carbuncle of an unused car park (I wonder why that is) do not make a town centre. Nor do hundreds of new flats being thrown up on every square inch of space.”
“STOP BUILDING HUNDREDS OF HIGH-RISE APARTMENT BLOCKS!!!!!!” Brentford Example comments
“Nice seating areas with plants etc, cafes, bars and shops would make it a more desirable place to go. There is currently nothing much to offer (other than morrisons) therefore I go elsewhere e.g. Ealing broadway.”
“Make it a kind, caring place. Give us more GPs, dentists (and) schools. Invest in REAL housing at affordable prices for locals to buy.”
“A strong link should be made between the river and the high street.” Transport & Movement comments
most common themes: Dislike of the Ballymore multistorey car park’s appearance
A more connected pedestrian and cyclist friendly town centre
Need for public realm improvements
Connectivity to the river, station and Great West Road
Improvements needed to parking capacity and convenience Transport & Movement comments
Collated comments
Junctions: One comment asked that the Commerce Road Parking: There were a couple of comments asking for more / London Road is redesigned. Whilst others felt all junctions short-term parking, particularly for vulnerable / disabled users. need to be redesigned to improve traffic flow and ease There were a couple of comments about the aesthetics of the pedestrian and cyclist crossings Ballymore multi-storey car park and whether it was finished / will be greened to disguise it Connections: A couple of comments included the need to improve the connections from the high street to local West London Orbital Route: One respondent asked that neighbourhoods and green spaces, as well as the Great council continue to work with TfL on the West London Orbital West Road Route to Old Oak Common to improve connectivity.
Walking and Cycling: One respondent felt the high street was too tight to accommodate a better environment for pedestrians and segregated cycle lanes. Another respondent asked for a cycle hub to be introduced in the town centre. One respondent asked that the pedestrian / cycle bridge to Kew Gardens was revived
Public Realm: There is a desire to have cleaner, calmer and more pedestrian and cyclist friendly streets. More street trees was asked for in a couple of comments
Riverside: A number of comments were made about the poor access and views of the riverside Key summary
Hounslow Feltham Brentford Chiswick Many residents of Hounslow Residents of Feltham think the Residents of Brentford were In Chiswick there is a strong believe improvements to public size of the High Street causes a concerned about the lack of sense of pride for local realm and the quality of shopping disconnect in their town centre. services, such as banks, post business. Residents feel the will help to restore some positive offices and pharmacists, in council need to understand the identity in the town. Many think the road is unsafe relation to the large number of community better and do more but are also concerned the new developments in the town to support these businesses. Driving is a key issue. Many feel physical barrier this creates centre. A number of residents they are being forced out of their is causing levels of anti- were supportive of the major Residents of Chiswick own town by a lack of parking, social behaviour and general schemes and simply wanted to are concerned about the and by tight permit restrictions. uncleanliness in key areas such see them completed. congestion, fast cycle speeds as Feltham Green. The pond and pollution caused as a result Many residents commented that area is a particular highlight for Brentford’s strong historical of the imposed traffic restrictions there is a need to identify what residents, and they do not want it connections are at the forefront and cycle interventions. makes Hounslow a destination. abandoned. of the public conscience. Residents felt Hounslow needs People want to celebrate An engaged local community investment in public realm, leisure It is felt that local centres of Brentford, and feel this can be full of innovative ideas to and community activities in order creativity such as Feltham Arts done by supporting local arts support Chiswick as a vibrant to build pride in their centre and the library could be better (Watermans is a point of pride) town centre. They want to see and a sense of identity and connected to the community and and promoting stronger physical events and markets on the community. town centre. links in the town to support this. High Road and green spaces. residents wanted... residents wanted... residents wanted... residents wanted... better shops safety local amenities less traffic
support for local a sense of place better public realm less flats businesses
investment in green better engagement from a positive identity spaces riverside connections the Council