Controversial west London redevelopment proposals go through by three votes to two

AHMM鈥檚 proposals to revamp Shepherd鈥檚 Bush Market with a scheme that includes new commercial and a residential block have won the backing of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

A meeting of the authority鈥檚 Planning and Development Control Committee voted to approve the plans, drawn up for developer Yoo Capital, by three votes to two at a meeting last night.

The decision, which is subject to approval from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, comes two weeks after a meeting expected to determine the proposals had to be halted because of protesters opposed to the redevelopment.

AHMM Sheperds 6

View of the refreshed market street

AHMM鈥檚 designs for the 1.8ha site in west London would deliver a stepped nine-storey commercial building with 32,380 sq m of space.

Proposed uses for the building 鈥 dubbed Goldhawk Studios 鈥 include office accommodation, a life-science incubator that would be operated by Imperial College London, a caf茅, meeting rooms and space for market traders.

The former A Cooke pie and mash shop, immortalised by rock band The Who in the film Quadrophenia, would be reconfigured as a pedestrian entrance to the new commercial space under the proposals.

A six-storey residential block proposed for the 1.8ha site would offer 40 鈥渁ffordable鈥 homes, split between rent and shared-ownership.

Refurbishment work at the market would deliver new and replacement stalls and shops, fa莽ade improvements to railway arches that form its backdrop, a replacement canopy and new entrance signs at Goldhawk Road and Uxbridge Road.

A report to members of Hammersmith and Fulham鈥檚 Planning and Development Control Committee said 126 objections had been received in relation to the proposals since they were lodged in May 鈥 contrasting with 103 representations in support.

Concerns included the height, massing and scale of the proposals. Government heritage adviser Historic England also described the proposals as 鈥渧isually dominant鈥 and harmful to the character of the Shepherd鈥檚 Bush Conservation Area.

But planning officers added that they did not consider the development would have a 鈥渄isruptive and harmful impact鈥 on the skyline, or result in any harm to the setting of adjacent heritage assets.

好色先生TVs formerly used as a hostel by charity for the homeless St Mungo鈥檚 would also be demolished to make way for the scheme. That part of the site, known as the Old Laundry Yard, is in temporary use as artists鈥 space.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council鈥檚 decision comes 12 years after proposals to redevelop Shepherd鈥檚 Bush Market, drawn up by Robin Partington Associates, were given outline consent.

That scheme, which included 250 apartments, foundered in 2016 following a lengthy legal battle with market traders.

In addition to AHMM, Yoo Capital鈥檚 project team for Shepherd鈥檚 Bush includes project manager Opera, CDM principal designer and QS Gardiner & Theobald, structural and civil engineer Elliott Wood, services engineer chapmanbdsp, and landscape architect LDA.