Council Says No to Demolition of Former Argos Site

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King Street plans judged overbearing with lack of affordable homes

Visualisation of the King Street scheme from the planning application

September 8, 2023

Planners at Hammersmith & Fulham Council have refused permission for the demolition of 110 - 114 King Street, the building which was formerly home to Argus.

The planning application by developer Thackeray Estates envisaged the redevelopment of the site to create a part three, part five storey building containing 24 flats and new retail space on the ground floor.

In the supporting documents, Frost Architects said Thackeray Estates’ vision was to create a vibrant mixed-use development in this key commercial street location, providing high quality retail space and 24 studio, one and two bedroom flats.

However, H&F Council has turned it down for a number of reasons, including the lack of affordable housing provision and the proposed housing mix (17 studios, five one bedroom and two two-bedroom flats) which the council says fails to provide a range of unit types, including family sized accommodation for which there is an identified need.

The council’s decision was also critical of the amenities it would offer to future occupiers, saying that to accommodate the maximum number of flats, the living environment of several units would be substantially compromised, with the orientation, inadequate floor to ceiling heights, and internal arrangements considered unacceptable and offering substandard levels of outlook and prospect, and daylight and sunlight.

The proposed development was also considered overbearing and dominating, with proposed access and servicing arrangements creating a detrimental impact on adjoining Argyle Place, the surrounding highway network, and on pedestrians’ safety.

The application and the reasons for refusal can be seen in full on the council’s website using the reference 2022/01519/FUL.

The council’s decision however may not be the last word on the application. Thackeray Estates is also involved in two other nearby sites, including 96-98 King Street, currently occupied by discount store Savers.

The developer submitted an application to redevelop this site to create a part three, part four storey building with 16 flats and commercial space on the ground floor.

Developer's isualisation of proposed redevelopment of the Savers site on King Street

This was also refused by H&F Council, but an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate proved successful, with the inspector stating that the proposal would result in the creation of 16 dwelling units in a sustainable location close to services, employment and public transport connections.

You can read the detailed decision by the Inspector along with the application on the council website using the reference 2021/00933/FUL.

Thackeray Estates’ third site in the centre of Hammersmith is the former timber yard Dimes Place, now transformed into office complex New Timber Yard, described as four separate buildings set around a central courtyard within a gated, sustainability driven gated campus.

The New Timber Yard building

While it has not yet announced its plans for 110 - 114 King Street, Thackeray Estates says it is making a significant investment in these three key sites and securing the regeneration of the street by creating a vibrant mix of employment generating uses, town centre living and retail, to enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre.

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