Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Women-only tower block proposals are turned down
WOMEN’S PIONEER HOUSING WANTED TO BUILD 269 HOMES
A HOUSING association that wanted to build an 18-storey tower block in West London where only women could live is “very disappointed” after the plans were rejected.
Women’s Pioneer Housing (WPH) wanted to build 269 new homes near White City but the plans have been shut down by Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
The accommodation would be used by women who can’t afford to rent in the capital. WPH said the new homes are “much-needed” and it spent four years designing the site.
The council was asked why the plans were vetoed after a technical error meant the meeting was not broadcast in full. But after almost a week, and subsequent follow-ups, it has not been able to give the grounds for rejection.
WPH is an association based in Hammersmith and Fulham that “challenges gender inequality and provides muchneeded homes for women”.
It hoped to build a mix of flats and shared living spaces by bulldozing a 36 block of one-bed flats and its current office building on 227 Wood Lane.
WPH CEO Tracy Downie said there are more than 600 single women on the housing waiting list in Hammersmith and Fulham and the new homes at Wood Lane would only be offered to existing residents in the borough.
She added: “We specifically choose to develop in areas where women feel safe and increasing the homes in this borough is incredibly important to us.”
WHP applied for permission to build a 29-storey tower on the site with space for 80 apartments, offices and 350 shared living spaces in January 2020. But the plans were reconsidered after complaints about the height of the building.
The new project includes an 18-storey tower with 60 affordable flats, a workspace, a gym, a launderette and a roof terrace.
The set-up would create 46 new jobs (24 in Hammersmith and Fulham) and pump around £1.6 million into the local economy through spending from the new residents, according to a report by an agent for the developer.
WPH said in a statement: “Clearly we are very disappointed that our 227 Wood Lane planning application for 60 much-needed affordable homes for Women’s Pioneer Housing alongside 209 innovative mixed-tenure co-living units has been refused.
“The application followed four years of engagement with the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, the GLA and the local community.
As a result of this process, our proposals had been refined to address feedback, resulting in a significant reduction in height from 29 to 18 storeys, revised materials, improved public realm and community benefits.
“These amended proposals had received support from the GLA, a recommendation for approval from planning officers and widespread support from the local community.’
“Alongside our partners Bridges Fund Management, a social impact investor, we will now take some time to carefully consider our next steps.”
A report by a council planning officer recommended that the updated plans be approved as long as there was no disagreement with the Mayor of London (GLA).
It said: “Officers consider that the residential use development is appropriate in this location... The proposal has adopted a design-led approach to optimise the capacity of a site in keeping with its surroundings.”
But Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s planning committee agreed to reject the plans on Tuesday, October 11. The meeting was held in public and part of it was live-streamed but much of the debate was lost due to a technical error.
WPH was set up in 1920 to give women more affordable homes amid the fight for gender equality. The association aims to help women who struggle to rent privately and it owns around 1,000 properties in West London.
A statement on its website says: “On average, women still earn much less than men in Britain and this has a lifetime impact. Rents in London are far out of reach for many women.
“Women are also much more likely to be made homeless as a result of domestic abuse. We are committed to providing the high quality, safe, affordable homes that women in London so desperately need.”