Planning Update

Station Road residents were surprised to learn recently that their houses are now included in an extension of the council High Street Conservation Zone. This was put in place because the condition of Christ Church on Station Road (caused by original poor building standards) has deteriorated rapidly recently to the point that the building has been condemned by structural engineers and the church’s insurance company.

The Church Trust believes that the only way to continue with a practicing church on this site would be to demolish the existing one and build a new one along with a new church hall, community hall and housing. This would enable a new church to be funded – otherwise the independent church could be facing a bill running into millions just to attempt to rescue the existing building. LBRUT have acted quickly on this front to increase protection of the site but aren’t ruling out that demolition plans could get the go-ahead.

A proposed Normansfield/Velma Boathouse development has attracted the attention of a local group who believe the developer’s insistence that he is under no obligation to keep the boathouse means that there could be plans to demolish it. The boathouse was built in 1884 by Doctor Langdon-Down, is a Building of Townscape Merit and only one of half a dozen surviving Victorian boathouses on this stretch of the Thames.

Sainsburys have decided to appeal the decision against opening a new Local store near the Landmark Art Centre. Campaigners are waiting now for a decision on 18th December. Despite objections from some residents, The Teddington Society, Vince Cable and The Teddington Business Community, plans to demolish the Victorian building at 210 Kingston Road have been given the go-ahead – this will create a new 3 story building with 7 flats above a commercial space large enough for a ‘local’-type supermarket.

[Update 08/01/2014] If you support the demolition and redevelopment of the church site, you can add your name to this online petition.

Support by The Teddington Society and The Lensbury Club for the Ham Hydro scheme have since been withdrawn after plans for the installation were amended and would now mean a larger installation than in the original planning application. The Lensbury believe the size and noise from the scheme would disturb guests using their grounds and The Teddington Society believe that the environmental consequences of these changes are unknown so have formally objected to these plans, although they support a hydroelectric scheme in principle on this site.

Ham Hydro will be holding an informal drop-in evening today (11th December 2013) at Sacred Heart Church, 262 Kingston Road for those who wish to see the latest developments of the Weir hydro proposal. The project team will be on hand to answer any questions that you may have about how the scheme is to be delivered, the look and feel, benefits to the community and investor info. RSVP info@hamhydro.org if you wish to attend.

BT previously got into hot water over the installation of their green cabinets in Conservation Areas but have since enjoyed relaxing of permitted development rules outside of these areas by the government. This means that as part of the nation-wide rollout of 52,000 broadband green cabinets by the end of 2014, in Teddington there will be 170 and it appears as though no warning or consent will be needed before they appear near properties.

Pinewood have officially announced the date that they will move out of Teddington Studios – this will be December 24th 2014. The Waldegrave Road development of 18 houses and 18 flats has been given the go-ahead – more info to follow on when this construction might begin.

[Update 17/12/2013] Full transcript of the Ham Hydro public meeting can be found here and follow this link to find details via the TBC re: the demolition of 210 Kingston Road if you wish to object.

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