Chiswick Curve tower rejected by Secretary of State

The Chiswick Curve is a proposal for a part 32 storey and part 25 storey tower at the junction of the M4 and the North and South Circular Roads.  Planning permission having been refused by the London Borough of Hounslow, the appeal was recovered by the Secretary of State for his own determination.

Ranging over four weeks, the inquiry concentrated on heritage impacts, particularly on the setting of the Kew World Heritage Site, the Strand on the Green Conservation Area, the Kew Green Conservation Area and the Gunnersbury Park Conservation Area, along with their listed buildings.  The scheme was resisted by Historic England and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, amongst others. The Inspector and the Secretary found that the tower would cause less than substantial harm to these designated heritage assets.  Whilst the Inspector thought that the benefits of the scheme outweighed the harm, the Minister disagreed, refusing permission.

The Ministerial decision, issued on 19 July 2019 is available here.

Richard Harwood QC appeared for Historic England.