PLANS FOR NEW BUSINESS PARK ON SITE OF FORMER LABORATORY OF THE GOVERNMENT CHEMISTS IN TEDDINGTON

The application by a company called Graftongate’s to demolish the buildings on the site of the Laboratory of the Government Chemists’ former site in Queen’s Road is now on the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (Lbrut) planning website under Planning Applications – Ref no: PA25/2927.

The decision date is 21 November.

Anyone interested can see the drawings and the finer details of the application as well as those letters of objections.

The site has been acquired by Royal Asset Management Property in partnership with a company called Graftongate (Graftongate – Commercial Real Estate Investor and Developer) which will act as development managers.

It is expected to consist of a mixture 16 terraced and detached business units covering 130.000 square feet.

The Teddington Society says: “Don’t be put off by the 135 documents in the application! Under the ‘Report’ heading is the UMC Design and Access statement which sets out the plans for the site clearly with maps and illustrations.

“The Transport Assessment for Queen’s Road (part of Transport Assessment, Mode 2025) is also interesting reading, given that the main issue for Teddington is likely to be the type and volume of traffic using the site and permitted access times.

“The Construction Logistics Plan Mode, August 2025 proposes a start of April 2026 and completion in March 2027. Under the ‘Submitted Drawings’ heading is DR A 0601 Rev P08 Site Layout Plan which is the layout of the new site.

“Hint: for quick and easy access to documents if you don’t want to download pdfs – just click on the eye symbol by the document’s title.”

Anyone can make a comment – click on the blue box towards the top of the application details page, fill in your details on the page that opens up and select or drop your file into the box at the top right of the comment page.

One letter of objection states: “I believe the proposal would cause unacceptable harm to local amenity, environmental quality, and highway safety, contrary to local and national planning policies.”

A resident in Coleshill Road, which adjoins the development writes: ”

“LIGHT The lighting for the road between these units will also impact our house and will be additional to the existing street lighting in Coleshill Road. I object to this raised light intensity which will especially affect one of our bedrooms.

“ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR I am concerned that the perimeter pathway between the units and boundary fence could be subject to anti-social behaviour unless it is securely closed to the public, which I cannot ascertain from the drawings.

“APPEARANCE The brickwork of the current buildings blends well with the trees and other foliage beside the pavement so that the LGC site is unobtrusive. I understand that the new buildings will be white which will be unnecessarily obtrusive.