Locals vow to fight demolition of Fulham Gasworks: residents say planned tower blocks will overshadow homes and overcrowd the area

Battle lines are being drawn up to fight plans for 1,300 new homes in towers up to 27 storeys on the site of a historic gasworks site in Fulham.
High-octane: residents are preparing to fight the destruction of one of London’s last surviving Victorian gasworks
Ruth Bloomfield19 September 2016

A showdown is looming over plans to demolish the Fulham Gasworks making way for 1,375 homes in blocks of up to 27 storeys high on the 17-acre site.

It is claimed that destruction of one of London’s last surviving Victorian gasworks, with its six redundant gas holders and disused industrial buildings, will ruin views and overcrowd the area, in one of the most expensive parts of the capital.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council is considering a planning application for the multimillion-pound project, which would feature one of the salvaged gas holders within a new park, as well as new shops, restaurants and offices. Berkeley Group is the developer, and the National Grid owns the site.

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However, planners at neighbouring Kensington & Chelsea Council fear the cluster of skyscrapers will ruin views from Brompton Cemetery and “loom above” Chelsea Academy school, as well as impacting on period homes in and around the lower reaches of King’s Road and Fulham Road.

“No justification is provided as to how the impact of these alien and overscaled towers could be deemed beneficial,” said Graham Stallwood, the council’s executive director of planning and borough development, who is also concerned about the impact of an influx of hundreds of new residents on local schools and stations.

Prime site: Fulham Gasworks could make way for 1,375 homes in blocks of up to 27 storeys high

The Chelsea Society and Lots Village Residents Association are objecting to the plans, underlining concerns that homes will be overshadowed by the new towers.

Fulham Gasworks opened in 1824, replacing market gardens and orchards, and operated until the Seventies. After that the site was decommissioned, and used as a car breakers’ yard. Plans for its redevelopment have been under discussion for several years.

Documents submitted by Berkeley and National Grid promise to create an “exemplary” new neighbourhood between Fulham and Imperial Wharf, with glazed towers interspersed with lower, red-brick buildings.

A decision on the site is not expected until late this year or early next year. If approved, the project will join the ongoing redevelopment of the adjacent Lots Road Power Station, which is already being converted into new homes.

A spokeswoman for the developer said: “This is all at a relatively early stage in the planning process. We have done a significant amount of consultation pre-application. This includes three public exhibitions which were well attended. We plan to work together with everybody involved and listen to all their comments.”