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"A remarkable industrial building group" |
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The old electricity works area at Hamilton Road, Twickenham, has been included in a new conservation area, agreed at the meeting of Richmond upon Thames Cabinet on 16th January at York House. It is now Conservation Area no. 72, and local people are delighted. They have been campaigning against a planning application which would see the demolition of all but one of the victorian buildings, which were given Building of Townscape Merit status (a local listing) in 1983. Redevelopment plans show replacement of the brick buildings with modern blocks of flats. The residents sought a meeting with Cllr David Marlow, the borough's cabinet member for environment and planning. They showed him the site and pointed out that the conservation area of Twickenham Green stopped short of the Hamilton Road area, even though both the works and the surrounding streets are a "hidden treasure" of local history. The cabinet report agrees, stating: "No.37 Hamilton Road is recognised as a remarkable industrial building group of local architectural and historic interest." The report continues: "It is the opinion of the Council’s Design Panel that all efforts should be made to retain, adapt and reuse the original buildings as part of any redevelopment of this site. "No.37 Hamilton Road is a building group in commercial use that does not lie within a conservation area. Whilst planning permission is required for new development on the site, no permission or consent is required to demolish existing buildings on the site. The option to be considered by the Cabinet here is whether or not to designate a new conservation area to include no.37 Hamilton Road. The designation of such a conservation area would include the historic industrial buildings at no.37 Hamilton Road (BTM) and also the terraced houses of Hamilton Road, Warwick Road and Edwin Road, houses that are associated with the development of the Twickenham electricity works at no.37 Hamilton Road." "There has been significant local interest in preserving this building. Accordingly officers are recommending that the electricity works buildings and associated streets of housing area designated as a conservation area. This designation will ensure that the future of all or part of the BTM can be properly considered in the determination of any proposals for this site and that its contribution to the special interest, character and appearance of this area can be more fully considered." Commented one of the campaigners, Cathy Cooper: "I'm overjoyed! At last this area will get the recognition it deserves." The listing
has also been welcomed by Environment Trust for Richmond upon Thames,
which is seeking a listing for the buildings through English Heritage.
A spokesman said: "We are delighted that the Council has responded
to pressure from the local group in this way and recommended the designation
of a conservation area. The wealth of research that has been done
by the group and by Cathy Cooper in particular enabled the Trust to
write an urgent application for listed building status for the group
of buildings that comprise the Power Station, which we hope will be
successful." See the reports to cabinet (agenda item 16) See the special website for Hamilton Road Heritage Saturday, January 7, 2006
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