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UK: Proposals to redevelop a West London office tower into a coliving scheme have been granted approval.
Hounslow Council approved the plans for Chiswick Tower, which include 394 coliving studios, and 23 homes available for social rent.
Each coliving studio will feature an en-suite bathroom, double bed, small kitchen, table and chairs and a wall-mounted television. Shared amenities will include a communal garden, a coworking/flexible space, a screening room, communal kitchen, games room, library, laundry and gym.
The social rent homes will be constructed on site, replacing an existing two-storey annex with a nine storey block. Three of these homes will also be wheelchair-accessible.
The plans, designed by Assael Architecture, include significant upgrades to Gunnersbury station forecourt, with a redesigned entrance area, news seating and new lighting. The developer must also safeguard the part of the site for 25 years so that land can be used in future for wider station improvements.
Additionally, there will be a “13-year trigger” which requires all interested parties to begin preparing a design for station improvement. This will in part be funded by the developer with £50,000 agreed in the planning agreement for feasibility work.
Chiswick Tower has been a landmark on Chiswick High Road since 1968, when it was built as the UK headquarters of IBM. From 1995, after a substantial refurbishment, it was occupied by the British Standards Institution. American owned investment company Federated Hermes then bought it in 2013, renting it out as office space.
The site was sold two years ago to a buyer from the Middle East, who secured funding for the project from ASK Partners in April 2024.
Highlights:
• Proposals to redevelop a West London office tower into a coliving scheme have been granted approval
• Hounslow Council approved the plans for Chiswick Tower, which include 394 coliving studios, and 23 homes available for social rent
• Each coliving studio will feature an en-suite bathroom, double bed, small kitchen, table and chairs and a wall-mounted television
• Shared amenities will include a communal garden, a coworking/flexible space, a screening room, communal kitchen, games room, library, laundry and gym
• The plans, designed by Assael Architecture, include significant upgrades to Gunnersbury station forecourt, with a redesigned entrance area, news seating and new lighting
