Residents First

David Cameron visits Bayonne Estate

An innovative project to keep homes warm and insulate residents from spiralling energy bills has been praised by the Prime Minister David Cameron.

Mr Cameron toured the Bayonne estate this morning to see how local council tenants are benefiting from new cavity wall insulation thanks to a combination of government grants and an innovative partnership between Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council and Climate Energy Ltd.

283 homes in the Fulham estate will benefit from new cavity wall insulation – with the works coinciding with the council’s Decent Homes programme to reduce the need for extra scaffolding and disruption.

More than 100 properties have been completed so far and with a cold winter predicted and energy companies under fire for spiralling energy bills the Prime Minister decided to see for himself how the scheme is working on the ground.

Ann and John Ford, who have lived on the Bayonne estate for more than 20 years, invited Mr Cameron in for a cup of tea and a chat about how they have benefited from the scheme.

Green light for Fulham Reach

An exciting scheme to breathe fresh life into the Fulham riverside has been approved by Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council.

On Friday, September, 23, developer St George was given the green light by the council to regenerate the Fulham Reach area by constructing 744 flats on a riverside site at Distillery Lane, together with new office space, gym, restaurants, swimming pool and a boat club.

Cllr Nick Botterill, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, said: “The committee approved this application as it believed that the development would revitalise the riverside by bringing new homes, jobs and prosperity to a part of London that has been in desperate need of regeneration for many years. We recognise that there were differing views on this scheme but ultimately, having considered the application in detail, it is our opinion that this development will improve Fulham Reach and the surrounding area."

As part of the scheme, the council has negotiated a £12m Section 106 package from St George that will be spent on improvements to the surrounding area.

Speaking after the meeting, local residents spoke of their satisfaction that the plans had been approved.

Fulham resident Paul Makaviglia, said: “I am sure that this development will improve the area. I have been living here for around seven years and that bit of land has always looked a bit scruffy. When I look at what St George have done in Putney, I am sure that this will be a real improvement.”

2020 Vision: Fulham Reach site to be developed at last

Cllr Harry Phibbs writes:

At a planning meeting on Friday night it was agreed to allow development at last on a large site between the embankment and Frank Banfield Park near Hammersmith Bridge. The local Labour MP Andrew Slaughetr has made a confused attack on the proposal saying that it was luxury housing for the rich and also that it was downmarket. As Council leader for a decade he presided over a derelict site and owes residents an apology for this appalling failure given the acute shortage of housing.

The scheme has an attractive design - the houses in Winslow Rd are traditional and sympathetic. There will be 744 new homes including 186 homes for affordable home ownership for those with household incomes of £50,000 would allow local couples the chance to get onto the housing ladder who could not otherwise afford it. It is preferable to a previous scheme (which was approved but never developed) for office blocks which would have been taller than what will now be built.

The Hammersmith Embankment Residents Association, quite understandably, would have liked a maximum height of six storeys. (The eight blocks will range in height from three to nine storeys.) I would also have preferred them to be less tall but the judgment must be made on the overall merit of the scheme.

73% will be family homes.

50% of the new site will be public open space for all to enjoy. There will be a maze (made up of a hedge) in the public space also a community boating facility with pontoon for kayaks, rowers, etc. Widening the space to walk along the River, with cafes to stop at, will be a benefit as will improving access to the river from Frank Banfield Park.

Update on improvement works to Hammersmith Gyratory

Following Conservative-run H&F Council's successful bid for funding for significant improvements to be made to the Fulham Palace Road/Hammersmith Broadway interchange, work is due to start on the first phase within weeks.   The overall scheme proposes a new slip road for traffic heading north up Fulham Palace Road and will remove the current conflict with buses emerging from the station and reduce the current nightmare of traffic congestion at peak times. 

The first phase of the work will involve improvements being made to  Hammersmith Bridge Road, including a new bus barrier, a toucan crossing, pavement and road resurfacing and removing unnecessary street furniture.

The work will continue until March and when completed will enable traffic to flow more freely from the Hammersmith gyratory towards the bridge. It is envisaged that the second phase, to construct the new slip road, will start towards the end of the year. 

There will undoubtedly be some limited disruption in the short term whilst the works are completed, but the long-term benefits will be well worth it.

Cllr Paul Bristow, Cllr Gavin Donovan, Peter Graham and Cllr Andrew Johnson
 Fulham Reach Conservative Action Team

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