Plans in the pipeline for the West 12 Centre
Discussions are underway which could bring major changes to the West 12 Shopping Centre on Shepherd's Bush Green.
Land Securities, who own the West 12, say proposals to develop the centre are in the pipeline: “We have not submitted any planning as yet for W12 but can confirm that we are looking at a range of options for the centre, with an intention to take a proposal to planning in the near future,” a spokesperson said.
The notes announcing a pre-planning application meeting with the Council describe the plans as 'major large scale' and read: “Change of use of office to hotel; erection of 2 additional floors to proposed hotel; internal alterations to shopping centre (including enlargement of food store and use of part of the cinema as a bowling alley); external alterations; extension of delivery hours.”
However, the full details have been deemed 'confidential' by Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
Shepherd's Bush MP Andy Slaughter said: “This fits in with two council 'borough of opportunity' strategies: do whatever Westfield want – the new cinema there will threaten W12 - and provide more hotel space in the area for the new conference centre they want built at Earl's Court/Olympia. However, local residents will be dismayed by the increase in height and delivery hours, so it will be interesting to see which way they jump.”
The Council have so far been unable to provide us with any further details on the proposed development, nor have they been able to explain to us why the plans are 'confidential'.
However, we understand that pre-application discussions can sometimes be held in private where the developer pays the council a fee to receive advice. This allows the developer to explore what is and what isn't possible, thereby saving them the cost of a full application which could then be turned down.
11 September 2009
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