Riverside consultation closes
RESIDENTS HAVE HAD LAST CHANCE TO SPEAK OUT ON TWICKENHAM DEVELOPMENT
IT is the final week of consultation for the proposed development of Twickenham Riverside.
Ever since the lido was closed 40 years ago, Richmond Council has been debating what to do with the site.
In 2019, Hopkins Architects won a public design competition for the site and has since been working on plans for the development.
Earlier this month, the final design proposals were released and a consultation began.
The designs include affordable housing, office space, shops, a café and pub/restaurant and plenty of open space.
This open space includes relocating the Diamond Jubilee Gardens into a larger space in the centre of the proposed development, with suggestions for event space, a children’s play area and pétanque pitches, as well as terraced lawns, more planting and additional trees.
The proposal also includes public open space along the embankment with a flexible events space and a widened Water Lane with views from King Street.
The plans for the development have been controversial at times and the council has had to respond to feedback from groups such as Eel Pie Island, who are concerned about access and deliveries for businesses and residents, particularly for the boatyard.
The Twickenham Riverside Trust must also finalise agreements with the council in the coming weeks to surrender the lease of the Diamond Jubilee Gardens.
The Trust must go through a process with the Charity Commission approving the surrender of the lease, which may take several months.
However, it is hoped that if this is started shortly there will not be any impact on the programme.
Councillor Gareth Roberts, leader of Richmond Council, said he hopes the regeneration of the site will help to deliver “a new heart for Twickenham”.
Following the consultation, all feedback will be considered and the design further developed before a planning application is submitted later this year. The deadline for people to have their say on the latest proposals was Wednesday February 3 as the paper went to press.
You can see the proposals at https://haveyoursay.citizenspace. com/richmondce/riverside-21/
Hard copies of the proposals are available by calling 020 8891 7897.