Proposals for the next phase of a multimillion pound overhaul of Gunnersbury Park and Museum will be unveiled for public consultation by Hounslow and Ealing Councils shortly and Brentford FC representatives are involved in the process.
The focus is a £8million state-of-the-art sports hub, including floodlit tennis courts, artificial multi-sport pitches, grass pitches and an outdoor gym. These will be complemented with an indoor sports hall, modern changing rooms and café to provide year round facilities for residents of the two adjoining boroughs and for major London events.
If the two local authorities are permitted to go ahead with the ambitious project, the popular Park will be revamped and its historic buildings will be restored in time for its centenary in 2026.
The next round of public consultation on the sports proposals begins with a public meeting at 7pm on Thursday, 23 July, in the Terrace Room of the Small Mansion at Gunnersbury Park. Open to all local residents and stakeholders, the meeting will provide the latest plans which have been developed since the first round of consultation in March. AFLS+P, the Architects leading on the design of the building, will be presenting the proposals for the sports phase and will be on hand to answer any questions about the proposals alongside representatives from both councils. A further public meeting is scheduled for 8 September and the plans will be on display within the park and online prior to submission of a planning application in the autumn.
Lee Doyle, Chief Executive of Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust, and Brian Burgess, a Director of Lionel Road Developments Ltd - the company developing the land for Brentford's new stadium at Lionel Road South, will be at the meeting on Thursday and the two organisations are involved in the regeneration project.
Councillor Ed Mayne, Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Leisure, said: “We hope the Sports Hub will modernise the facilities and encourage thousands more to enjoy sport in Gunnersbury Park in the future. Through the consultation we aim to draw on the expertise of users and knowledge of local people to refine and improve the plans prior to submission of the planning application.”
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, Ealing Council's Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment and Leisure, said: "Gunnersbury Park is an amazing space, which is already a hive of physical activity. This Sports Hub will meet our ambitious plans to ensure our parks are spaces which can be enjoyed, where residents can keep active and get involved with organised sports. I'd encourage people to come along to the meetings to have their say about how the plans are refined in our consultation."
For further information about this meeting, please contact Sam O Neill at [email protected].