Housing plan for Twickenham Royal Mail site

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A second housing development could be built opposite three planned high-rise apartment blocks in a move set to “transform Twickenham”.

The Royal Mail delivery office in London Road, Twickenham, could make way for housing when workers relocate to Twickenham Trading Estate in Rugby Road, next month.

The development would sit opposite three high-rise blocks of flats planned as part of the redevelopment of Twickenham station by Solum Regeneration, a partnership between Network Rail and Kier Property.

Twickenham MP Vince Cable said: “Twickenham will be transformed by the combination of the station and sorting office developments “I really liked Royal Mail’s plans for a riverside walk and facilities for young people but there is a risk that the housing development would be too dominant.

“The traffic positioning, coming off the bridge, could also be a local headache.

“Their plans are not as far forward as the station project, but the two together will transform Twickenham. With suitable modifications it could be a change for the better.”

However, a Royal Mail spokesman stressed no definite plans for the site had been made.

He said: “As a result of the move Royal Mail has been considering the future of the London Road site and is exploring options for this.”

Dr Cable met with representatives from Solum last Friday to raise residents’ concerns about the height and scale of the proposed station development.

Residents hit out at Solum’s plans which include a new station with modern facilities, shop and restaurant spaces, and three new blocks of housing be built on the station site.

Twickenham Residents’ Action Group (Trag) held a stall last Saturday in King Street, Twickenham, to raise awareness of their fight against the development, and encourage people to sign their petition.

Trag member Chris Gillum said: “Support from the Twickenham community to our petition has been phenomenal with more than 500 signatures received so far.

“The clear message from the support we are receiving is that the people of Twickenham definitely do not want a high rise on their doorstep.”

Dr Cable said: “I have voiced residents’ concerns and the developers assured me that they would reduce the height and the number of the dwellings to prevent over-building “But they have to generate a return on the development to finance the station improvements, as well as much-needed social housing.”

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We should probably store some photographs for the good old days.