Kew Society has gained a respected relationship with Richmond Council’s planning department and our views are welcomed and frequently acted upon.
Kew Society has a proud record of monitoring planning applications for commercial development that might impact on our lives within Kew, and of making representations where it is felt that they may be non-compliant or otherwise inappropriate. We are fortunate to be able to call on the advice of planning specialists and have a positive relationship with planning officials.
As well as sites within Kew itself we also monitor applications outside of the immediate area, that might be considered overbearing and/or adversely affect our transport links. In recent years, we have chosen to not get involved in domestic applications except in exceptional instances.
We have recently responded to various planning consultations, including the draft new Richmond Local Plan, the proposed new Kew Green Conservation Area Appraisal, and LB Hounslow’s Character, Sustainability and Design Codes SPD. On the latter, we were responding to the section on Tall Buildings and their impact on RBG Kew.
Learn more about current applications below, or read about our previous successes.
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The area of Kew Retail Park, excluding that of Marks & Spencer, was sold to Berkeley Homes in 2021, for development of around 1,200 homes, and upgrading of the M&S store.
Richmond Council in their draft new Local Plan identify the whole of the Retail Park as “suitable for substantial provision of new housing units” with the site being a “tall building zone” (7 storeys) surrounded by a “mid rise buffer zone” (5-6 storeys). Construction may take up to 10 years’.
In June 2022 a community consultation planning weekend was held at the National Archives, organised by the architects of the scheme JTP (see here for their Report Back presentation). In September 2022, the Kew Society organised a follow-up Q&A session with JTP for local residents. Since then no further news has been received.
We have voiced concerns on behalf of residents, including how “crowded” the buildings will be, how the green spaces will be designed and allocated and the traffic impact. A concern too is that the Mayor would have the right to call in an application and may well seek to increase the number of residential units to deliver more affordable homes, as he did for Homebase.
Despite strong representations, including by the Kew Society, Richmond Council and many residents, that this will be an overly dense development that will irrevocably alter the appearance of the area, the Mayor of London approved redevelopment of the Homebase site on Manor Road on 23 May 2024. The proposals are for 453 homes (of which 173 affordable) in blocks of up to 11 storeys, in apparent contravention of Policy D9 of the London Plan that would otherwise result in a maximum height of 6 storeys.
North Richmond Councillors have asked the Council to seek legal advice on whether the process that led to that decision can be challenged in the courts. We understand the Council has agreed to this request but only the process, not the decision itself, can be legally challenged. If the legal advice is that the process was incorrect, then the Council will have to decide whether to take legal action.
A planning application for redevelopment of this vast site was approved by Richmond Council on 31st Jan 2024. However, the approval was challenged by London Mayor Sadiq Khan on the grounds of lack of sufficient provision of affordable housing. This led to an appeal to the nationwide Planning Inspectorate and Public Inquiry in November 2024.
The Kew Society encouraged residents to support Mortlake Brewery Community Group (MBCG) which appeared at the Inquiry. Whilst not against the development, the MBCG raised concerns that the proposals were in conflict with London Plan policies on density, infrastructure and planned transport links.
On 2 May 2025, the Planning Inspectorate found in favour of the development.
A planning application for redevelopment of the derelict Sega site on the Great West Road, just behind the Brentford Stadium, was submitted in November 2023 by the developer, Areli Developments. The proposed scheme is for 916 residential units within five tower blocks of up to 80 metres high.
The Kew Society is supporting the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond Council and Historic England in objecting to the proposal on the grounds of the materially adverse impact such tall blocks will have on views from Kew Gardens, Kew Green and the Thames towpath.
A planning application to convert the current Sports Direct unit at Kew Retail Park into a new food retail space has sparked mixed reactions from residents and local businesses and could offer a useful moment for wider community debate.
Work continues at the Thames towpath breach between Kew and Richmond. There will be no access for the public until summer 2025 at the earliest.
Sunday 1st June - Monday 30th June
A list of events taking place in Kew this month
Whether you live in the area, work here or just love to visit, you can help us care for Kew by joining the Kew Society.
Membership is just £10 a year per person, and every new member increases our influence and ability to work on your behalf.
Please join us or renew today and play a part in helping keep Kew a great place to be.
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