PLANS to replace two Hammersmith office blocks with luxury flats have incurred the wrath of members of a religious order.
Haymarket Media Group has submitted a planning application to pull down its offices in Bute Gardens and Wolverton Gardens, to make way for two five-storey blocks of 51 flats, with 17 underground parking spaces.
The Society of the Sacred Heart is unhappy with the proposals, which it believes will cause heavy traffic and disruption as the two buildings are demolished.
The society, an international congregation of Roman Catholic sisters with a branch in Bute Gardens for over 100 years, owns a number of properties in both roads but says it has not been consulted.
Beverley Lightley, charity operations manager, said: “This came out of the blue. There has been no consultation. The first thing we knew about it was when the planning application came through the door.
“We are opposed to the proposals because it’s going to create another high building in the area, and have a real impact on traffic.
“If the development does go ahead, then the road will become heavily congested. As an educational focused order we have strong concerns about the security and safety of the children who attend all the schools nearby.”
Staff at the neighbouring Sacred Heart Secondary School, which was set up by the order, have also spoken out against the plans, as they fear any increase in traffic in the street could put their pupils at risk.
A school spokeswoman said: “We have objected to the plans as we have concerns over the traffic that will inevitably come. It’s a very narrow street and we have concerns over the safety of our students.
“The school’s main exit is in Bute Gardens, so there will be girls coming and going and if the development goes ahead there will be a lot more vehicles.
“We also feel the construction will cause a lot of disruption, as there will be a lot of noise and dust."
Haymarket Media have also submitted plans to redevelop its King’s House office building in Hammersmith Road.
The Chronicle approached Haymarket but the company declined to comment.
