A small convenience shop is one of the final obstacles standing in the way of a huge new skyscraper development in the heart of Hounslow.

ITS Convenience Store, in High Street, Hounslow, would be one of those bulldozed to make way for 527 homes, a multiplex cinema, shops and restaurants in what is known as the High Street Quarter.

In something of a David and Goliath battle, the owners are among the few opponents to the scheme left standing in a public inquiry.

The developer Barratt wants to widen an alleyway known as Smithy Lane to open up access to the planned £100m complex, which would include a 27-storey residential tower.

Hounslow Council has issued compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) forcing the owners of the properties either side to sell up.

How the 27-storey tower in Hounslow would look (Barratt London)

Royal Mail objection withdrawn

ITS, The Body Shop, Specsavers and Bhogal Partners Solicitors, which occupy the buildings, all objected to the CPOs, leading to a public inquiry.

The Royal Mail Group, which was worried about the impact on its operations, and the owners of the Blenheim Centre, some of whose land is also needed, were among several other organisations to submit objections.

But following a week-long public inquiry , which concluded on Wednesday March 16, four companies, including Bhogal and the Royal Mail, have withdrawn their objections.

Although around a dozen objectors remain, several say they are in advanced talks with the council.

'Grand entrance would demolish heart of community'

Alimun Rajib and Mudasser Arif, joint owners of ITS, are not opposed to the development overall but claim forcing out existing businesses like theirs for the sake of a "grand entrance" would "demolish the heart of the community".

They say the store, which sells groceries and provides services including money transfer and courier facilities, is one of just two shops in west London offering authentic Bangladeshi produce.

An artist's impression of the 27-storey tower in the High Street Quarter development planned for Hounslow town centre

"This would demolish the heart of the community," they told the public inquiry. "We are the centre of the ethnic community.

"We have created a specialized food store for the Bangladeshi community which has already become the heart of the west London Bangladeshi community... by moving from the centre of the high street, the business would not survive."

'Development will benefit whole population'

The council, which claims the development will help regenerate the town centre, said the CPOs affected owners from diverse backgrounds.

But it said this was no surprise given 51% of Hounslow residents are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

"In those circumstances, it was almost inevitable that some of those affected by the order will be members of those (Pakistani or Bangladeshi) ethnic groups," it told the inquiry.

"The High Street Quarter scheme will greatly enhance the vitality and viability of Hounslow town centre and the borough generally, and in so doing will benefit the whole of the population, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds."

The development was approved by Hounslow Council's planning committee in November 2015, despite objections from Hounslow Central Residents' Association.

Following the public inquiry hearing the inspector will now write up a report which will be used by communities secretary Greg Clark to make a final decision. It is likely to be several months before a verdict is announced.