Save Hounslow Cavalry Barracks and its Grade II listed buildings!

The Issue

Hounslow Cavalry Barracks is a Conservation Area with 14 Grade II listed buildings and 19 locally listed buildings. It was built in 1793, and Florence Nightingale was trained here. It is a very beautiful site, with great military historical importance. It is considered one of the most eminent militarian sites in the country. The MOD are selling the site, and Hounslow Council are looking at plans to build 1000 homes here!! However, only 500 car park spaces have been provisionally allocated!! Furthermore, the plans state that no additional education or health care facilities are necessary. Very concerning when our schools are already oversubscribed, and it can take two weeks for a Doctors appointment. The site is intended for private accommodation, and 'affordable' housing. This is quite worrying when the 'affordable' properties being built at the regeneration development in High Street Quarter are apprx £390,000 for a one bedroom flat!! The minimum number will go to social housing, as is the case with all developments. Greedy landlords will purchase these properties and rent them out at extortionate rents, as is often the case these days. I know many people waiting on social housing lists, and regardless of the copious developments within the area, they are no nearer to being offered any housing. To turn this conservation area into a housing estate is beyond deplorable. The old Civic Centre has created in excess of more than 900 homes. The copious blocks of flats which have been built, and are in the process of being built, in Staines Road, will provide hundreds of additional homes, along with the regeneration project properties. Also the MOD site in Feltham, where a further 1500 homes will be built. The worry here is two-fold. The first being the nature and beauty of Hounslow Cavalry Barracks, and its importance to our history. The second being the over development of Hounslow in recent years. Flats are being built at a rapid pace. When the block of flats which were so crudely erected in front of Midsummmer Avenue were built, there were major problems with the sewage works. In fact, the road was dug up for nearly a year, and the smell was odious. Hounslow has already been deemed by the Environment Agency as a Serious Water Stress Area. The consultation report strives to insist that the site will be developed sympathetically, but unfortunately this Council cannot be trusted. This Council has developed rapidly, and has earned vast revenue from additional Council Tax. Have we benefited from this? Have they invested in extra amenities for Hounslow residents? No, they have not. They have taken away our supermarket from Hounslow West, and although there was an appeal for a new supermarket, it was refused. It has now become evident why. The old Morrisons' site is to be used as an access point for the Cavalry Site. Beaversfield Park will also be affected. I only know of two residents of Beavers Lane who have received a letter regarding the Conservation Appraisal. Those same residents were NOT sent copies of the draft plans following the consultation, nor did they receive any feedback from their comments on the Conservation Appraisal. This development will sadly be pushed through without proper input, feedback and feelings of the existing residents. Much like every other project that Hounslow Council expedite. The development of Hounslow Heath springs to mind, which has a history of over 1000 years!! There are plenty of rundown areas in Hounslow which could be developed in line with the Mayor's London Plan Policy. This petition is urgent as the consultation closes on 1st March 2019. As aforesaid, rushed through, no-one consulted, Hounslow Council doing what they want, when they want!!

This petition had 1,054 supporters

The Issue

Hounslow Cavalry Barracks is a Conservation Area with 14 Grade II listed buildings and 19 locally listed buildings. It was built in 1793, and Florence Nightingale was trained here. It is a very beautiful site, with great military historical importance. It is considered one of the most eminent militarian sites in the country. The MOD are selling the site, and Hounslow Council are looking at plans to build 1000 homes here!! However, only 500 car park spaces have been provisionally allocated!! Furthermore, the plans state that no additional education or health care facilities are necessary. Very concerning when our schools are already oversubscribed, and it can take two weeks for a Doctors appointment. The site is intended for private accommodation, and 'affordable' housing. This is quite worrying when the 'affordable' properties being built at the regeneration development in High Street Quarter are apprx £390,000 for a one bedroom flat!! The minimum number will go to social housing, as is the case with all developments. Greedy landlords will purchase these properties and rent them out at extortionate rents, as is often the case these days. I know many people waiting on social housing lists, and regardless of the copious developments within the area, they are no nearer to being offered any housing. To turn this conservation area into a housing estate is beyond deplorable. The old Civic Centre has created in excess of more than 900 homes. The copious blocks of flats which have been built, and are in the process of being built, in Staines Road, will provide hundreds of additional homes, along with the regeneration project properties. Also the MOD site in Feltham, where a further 1500 homes will be built. The worry here is two-fold. The first being the nature and beauty of Hounslow Cavalry Barracks, and its importance to our history. The second being the over development of Hounslow in recent years. Flats are being built at a rapid pace. When the block of flats which were so crudely erected in front of Midsummmer Avenue were built, there were major problems with the sewage works. In fact, the road was dug up for nearly a year, and the smell was odious. Hounslow has already been deemed by the Environment Agency as a Serious Water Stress Area. The consultation report strives to insist that the site will be developed sympathetically, but unfortunately this Council cannot be trusted. This Council has developed rapidly, and has earned vast revenue from additional Council Tax. Have we benefited from this? Have they invested in extra amenities for Hounslow residents? No, they have not. They have taken away our supermarket from Hounslow West, and although there was an appeal for a new supermarket, it was refused. It has now become evident why. The old Morrisons' site is to be used as an access point for the Cavalry Site. Beaversfield Park will also be affected. I only know of two residents of Beavers Lane who have received a letter regarding the Conservation Appraisal. Those same residents were NOT sent copies of the draft plans following the consultation, nor did they receive any feedback from their comments on the Conservation Appraisal. This development will sadly be pushed through without proper input, feedback and feelings of the existing residents. Much like every other project that Hounslow Council expedite. The development of Hounslow Heath springs to mind, which has a history of over 1000 years!! There are plenty of rundown areas in Hounslow which could be developed in line with the Mayor's London Plan Policy. This petition is urgent as the consultation closes on 1st March 2019. As aforesaid, rushed through, no-one consulted, Hounslow Council doing what they want, when they want!!

The Decision Makers

Councillor Steve Curran
Councillor Steve Curran
Leader of Hounslow Council
Joyce Ip
Joyce Ip
Senior Regeneration Officer
Sean Doran
Sean Doran
Principal Conservation Officer
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