![\"\"](\"http:\/\/sthelensresidents.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Latimer-in-19001.jpg\" "\\"Latimer")
<\/a><\/dt>\nIn the 1970s things changed.\u00a0 The arrival of Westway broke up the local street network and Latimer Road ceased to be a through route north\/south. The western side of the street (in those days part of Hammersmith) formed part of a Wood Lane Employment Zone. The row of 14 light industrial\/warehouse units was built on the western side of the road, facing existing housing on the eastern (Kensington) side of the street..<\/p>\n
Following borough boundary changes in 1996, both sides of Latimer Road became part of RBKC. The Council at that time chose to designate four sections of Latimer Road as part of the Freston\/Latimer Employment Zone. \u00a0This meant that any new development in these sections of the street, other than B1 commercial use, was resisted.<\/p>\n The StQW Neighbourhood Forum took the view from the start of its life that this ‘zoning’ policy was over-restrictive and had damaged the street over time. \u00a0Instead of protecting viable commercial space, RBKC planning policies had left too many offices vacant and unused. \u00a0We also felt strongly that there was scope to provide new housing in Latimer Road, by allowing redevelopment of Units 1-14 with residential above commercial uses (within height limits).<\/span><\/p>\n The Council did not accept this view, but after hearing evidence from both the Forum and RBKC planning officers at a public hearing in September 2015, the independent examiner of the draft neighbourhood plan sided largely with the StQW Forum.<\/p>\n Plans for a pedestrian\/cycle underpass beneath the railway line, from the Imperial West site to the southern end of Latimer Road, were announced as far back as 2011. Funding of \u00a34m for this project was secured via a S106 Agreement between Imperial College and LB Hammersmith & Fulham.<\/p>\n When built, this underpass will much improve public transport access to Latimer Road, via the Central Line station at White City and the bus routes along Wood Lane.<\/p>\n Regrettably, construction of the underpass is a long time coming. \u00a0The legal agreement with Imperial allows the College to defer the project until the back end of their build programme (halfway completed as at 2016). \u00a0There is as yet no firm date for completion of the underpass.<\/p>\n The StQW Forum continues to meet regularly with Imperial College (and with Westway Trust, owner of the site at 301 Latimer Road) to discuss progress with the underpass project. \u00a0It is key to ensuring that Latimer Road retains any viability as an office and employment location, given the arrival of many thousand square metres of purpose built office space in White City East.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To find our more about the St Quintin and Woodland Neighbourhood Plan, go to http:\/\/stqw.org\/wordpress\/<\/a> The StQW Neighbourhood Forum is working with the Planning Department at RB Kensington and Chelseas on preparation of a Supplementary Planning Document for Latimer Road and North Pole Road.\u00a0 The aim is to encourage more mixed use and new housing in Latimer Road and to improve the prospects of North Pole Road remaining a viable and successful neighbourhood shopping street.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One of the original motives for preparing a neighbourhood plan for the St Quintin and Woodlands area was to breathe some life into Latimer Road. \u00a0 Despite the fact that North Kensington is full of vitality, offering residents a wide … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\n