The man who helped to buy Riverside Studios in the 1970s has branded plans to demolish it as ‘selfish’.

Barrie Stead, Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s former leader, bought the studios’ freehold in the 1970s, and director Peter Gill was the studios’ artistic director in its hey day as an arts centre.

There are now proposals to demolish the famous studios and build a seven-storey complex including 165 homes with balconies and roof terraces and 8,633 sq m of commercial space for television and film recording studios, theatre, cinema, dressing rooms, offices and a cafe/bar.

Labour MP for Hammersmith, Andy Slaughter, joined about 100 residents at a public meeting on Monday to raise concerns over the height and density of the plans, as well as a lack of public consultation.

Mr Stead, said: “I bought Riverside’s freehold in the 1970s, so I’ve seen it through many different times. I don’t think I've ever seen a more selfish application. It’s going to ruin the view from the river and for people living in Crisp Road. How can people decide if they’re not given the information - the lack of consultation is undemocratic. The council are a bunch of Philistines.”

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Crisp Road is one of the main areas which would be affected by the development and neighbours there fear they will be living in the shadow of the building work for most of the year.

Joe Gribble, from Crisp Road Residents’ Association, said: “We are all supportive of a mixed-use redevelopment of Riverside Studios, but the height, massing and design would affect the character of the area, which is a conservation area, and turn it into a shadowy backwater. It needs to be set back and we’re concerned the road will constantly have HGVs. We’re concerned about the lack of consultation and that Riverside and Mount Anvil wouldn’t come tonight.”

Riverside Studios and developer Mount Anvil have denied there has been a lack of consultation, saying they have met residents’ groups and individuals a total of 14 times.

William Burdett-Coutts, artistic director from Riverside, said they need to build high to pay for running the arts centre. No representative from Riverside Studios or Mount Anvil attended Monday’s meeting.

Clive Fenton, chief executive of Mount Anvil said: “As a result of [consultations], amendments to the scheme were made in response to feedback to address any concerns,. Given the extensiveness of the consultation process we have undertaken and that the planning application has been submitted, we feel it is appropriate for the council to consider the scheme on its merits.”

Artist impression of how the new Riverside Studios complex could look
Artist impression of how the new Riverside complex could look