Our contribution to consultation on Ballymore Development

Thursday 21st November saw a very busy meeting in St Paul’s church with respect to Ballymore’s proposed development on and around Brentford High Street.

Here follows the text of Suzie Betlem’s speech:

STATEMENT – BRENTFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Brentford Chamber of Commerce has been actively involved in the re- generation proposals put forward by Ballymore over the past several years, and a lot of our members here tonight, have taken part in the workshop process over the past 18 months.

Subsequently since the planning application was submitted, The Brentford Chamber executive committee has been working hard to put forward ideas and help develop the changes that must be made to make this redevelopment work for the business community, as much as for the residents before approval is given.

Whilst we all want to see this development get underway, the unilateral view of the Brentford Chamber, and having carried out our own survey for our members, is that the plans as they presently stand, fall very far short of delivering the dynamic improvement Brentford deserves, and we have grave concerns to its financial success for the community as a whole.

It is imperative for the Brentford business community to have a clear understanding and commitment from Ballymore, in order to remain trading and our concern is that this has not been addressed adequately. It appears from talking to several of their current business tenants, some which are here tonight, that Ballymore have not engaged or communicated with these individuals in any way to date.

PRESENT BUSINESS

We have asked Ballymore for their transitional strategy to be put in place, and this must be included in their proposals before application is approved. This is vital to keep existing business in Brentford, over the coming few years whilst the building works take place, and for these individual to establish business plans for forward growth over the coming ten years and more.

With at least 20 retail and workshops that exist around the south side of the high street employing some 60 people, it would appear at present Brentford will lose these vital and established businesses, and add to the unemployment statistics, along with revenue by way of rates to Hounslow council.

It is also important for businesses on the North side and west end Of the High street, to understand, that with the removal of the car park ( next to Motorwise ) and with all the 16 shops being demolished along the South side up to the post office, in phase 1. It will make a massive impact on their businesses and they will have to work even harder to maintain profitability probably over some 18 months or more, and the concern is that many will struggle with the lack of footfall and parking facilities, and close.
With nowhere left to shop, the local population will inevitably migrate to other shopping areas.

FUTURE SHOPS AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
With regard to the future it is equally important for Ballymore to put forward a marketing strategy now, and build confidence from the start for prospective independent shops and enterprises that Brentford will need to establish and generate new business investment.
This development for Brentford needs to ‘raise the bar’ in order to compete with its surrounding and more appealing areas, such as Chiswick, Kew, Richmond and Northfields.
From the response to the survey, and communication with new investors. The visualisations Ballymore presently show does not deliver what we need at present or give anyone hope in order to achieve this.

The architectural materials being offered in the pictures and diagrams with flat line roof structures give an oppressive, grey, monolithic and uninspiring view to welcome prospective business and retail shops alike. There is no sympathy for the inherent historical buildings that give Brentford a quality of its own. We are all calling for more imaginative use and introduction of stone, granite and timber the softening of façades, with curvature and arches to give some relief to the relentless contemporary structures proposed, which bears more relation to Croydon or dare we say it Hounslow high street.

The SIO6 Monies due to Brentford from all the developers in the past, present and future must be ring-fenced for Brentford alone and will be sorely needed to bridge a lot of problems we forsee arising. Part of this money has been allocated for the employment of our Brentford Town centre Manager, Patricia Huertas, some 2 years ago However her services have not been apparent to our combined Brentford organisations, being kept busy we believe with more pressing issues in Hounslow Town centre.
We would also like to suggest making Brentford a Business Improvement district scheme or BID as it is known to help with future stability.
We have the exciting opportunity in Brentford to help make this a landmark site, but we need some Wow factor to entice more independent shops, with a diverse selection of produce and to keep the ‘poundlands’ at bay along with the inevitable benign stream of profusive nail bars, estate agents and fast food shops.

In conclusion, The Brentford Chamber of Commerce, whilst encouraged by the improvements offered by Ballymore over the past two weeks, we feel there is a lot more work to do, and would suggest to Hounslow council, councillors and the planning officers, that these points must be taken into consideration before approval is given.
Whilst we understand this will delay the build programme and possibly require several more months to get it right, this would seem be a more sensible approach, rather than go through inevitable costly and time consuming appeal processes, which we the Chamber would vigorously support to defend Brentford’s business now and in the future.