All Change Along Hammersmith's Riverfront


With 847 new homes, watersports facility and new riverfront walks

 

Housing group A2Dominion has been granted planning permission by H&F Council to demolish one of our area's most neglected landmarks, Queens Wharf on Queen Caroline Street close to Hammersmith Bridge, to create 81 new homes.

In its place will be a new curved seven storey scheme designed by local company Assael Architecture, providing 18 one bedroom, 46 two bedroom and nine three bedroom apartments for sale, plus eight affordable homes.  It will also provide commercial space for a restaurant with river views and open up a new section of the Thames pathway.

This scheme is also part of a wider project which includes the redevelopment of neighbouring Riverside Studios to create a larger arts centre with an extra cinema and performance space.

When the Queens Wharf planning application was made in summer, negotiations were said to be ongoing between potential investors Arab Investments, Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Riverside Studios and A2Dominion.

Riverside Studios artistic director William Burdett-Coutts said the aim was for the studios to become self-sufficient and added that an announcement about their future was expected soon. However, that announcement has yet to happen.

You can read more about these plans here.

Further east, work is continuing at St George's development Fulham Reach, which, when completed, will offer 744 apartments plus shops, bars, restaurants and water sports facilities including a community rowing club.

Fulham Reach

Homes at the development range from studio flats offered at a discount price to first time buyers to multi-million pound penthouses. While building continues, a riverfront walkway is now open along with a 25 metre pontoon.

Nick Hutchings, MD of St George Central London says: " The Riverside Pontoon is a valuable riverside facility. It is the first phase of a new water sports facility at Fulham Reach and will equip a 500sqm boat house. The new facilities will be available to the local community where we hope to introduce encourage and teach people to row."

Permission has also been granted for The Henry Boyer Trust’s plans to redevelop Palace Wharf, which is currently being used as artists' studios. These plans will mean will mean the demolition of industrial buildings on the site and their replacement with five houses, while the main wharf building will become 22 apartments.

Palace Wharf

The plans will also open up another portion of the Thames riverpath to the public. Along with the other new developments further west and the proposed expansion of Fulham Football Club's Craven Cottage, this will mean in future, the public will be able to walk by the river almost all the way from Hammersmith to Putney Bridge.

These new developments on the river are just part of the larger transformation planned for Hammersmith, including the town centre. You can read about these plans here.

 

January 25, 2013