Houseboat dwellers could face eviction within the next year under plans to build a marina beside Watermans Park in Brentford.
About 25 houseboats are moored alongside the park in Brentford High Street but none are licensed and the council claims all are there illegally.
Councillors are due to vote at next Tuesday's (September 9) cabinet meeting on proposals for a £5.45 million marina at the site, with 26 berths.
Should they back the plans, the council plans to remove all boats from that stretch of the Thames within the next 12 months so work can begin.
The new marina is scheduled for completion in February 2017, subject to securing the site and getting planning permission.
Under the proposals, the council would cover the full construction costs and would own the marina, with mooring fees being shared between the Port of London Authority (PLA), the council and the agent brought in to manage the docking site.
Asked whether existing boat dwellers would get first refusal on the new moorings, a council spokesman said it was 'not ruling out this opportunity at this stage'.
Members of the community, who must currently climb over a wall to access their boats, do not currently pay mooring fees or council tax but have previously indicated they would be willing to do so.
It is understood the boats are also not connected to sewers, meaning raw sewage is released directly into the river at present.
Council leader Steve Curran told getwestlondon the marina was part of its vision to regenerate the 'up-and-coming' area, improving the look of the waterfront.
"The proposal also aims to create a positive cash return allowing the council to reinvest funds into vital services for residents," he said.
"We also have a duty to ensure all vessels are licensed to ensure this stretch of the river is properly maintained and safe for residents to use."
Even if the marina is not built, the council says it has a duty to remove the boats under the terms of its licence with the PLA for the site.
It is not known at this stage whether an alternative site would be provided, or other lodgings found, should they be forced to leave.
This is not the first time boat dwellers have faced a fight to remain at the moorings. In 2012 they were the subject of a court case to determine who owns the riverbed beneath the boats. The council claims the PLA is the legal owner.
According to the council, 47 unlicensed boats were removed from the site in 1999 but more unauthorised vessels had arrived by 2004.
Boat dwellers claim some of the boats have been there for more than 45 years, though one woman said there had been no boats along that stretch in 2001.
When getwestlondon visited the site today, those we were able to speak to said they had only lived there a short time.
One man said film directors, photographers, a barrister and a doctor were among the floating residents. The man, who asked not to be named, described his neighbours as 'real characters' and said there was a strong sense of community there.
A woman, who also asked to remain anonymous, said: "People here are willing to compromise but the council doesn't want that.
"Other people have approached the council and offered to pay rates and everything else but it doesn't seem interested. I think it wants a marina so it can make money."
Another boat dweller, who asked not to be named, said the council faces 'another Dale Farm' if it pushes ahead with plans to clear the site.
