Today is the final day for members of the public to submit their comments on the planning application for the residential development and demolition at the site of Manor Road Homebase.

The planning application, which has been submitted by developer Avanton Richmond would see the Homebase building demolished and residential tower blocks erected in its place.

The Homebase and Pets at Home stores are both permanently closed.

The site of the development. (Photo Credit: Google Maps).

An earlier version of the application was thrown out by Richmond Council in 2019 and it is now in the hands of The Greater London Authority and The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Khan approved the revised development in 2020 subject to a Section 106 agreement being completed.

A CGI of the propsed development. (Photo Credit: Assael / Avanton).

The development would consist of a 'residential led redevelopment' of four buildings between four and nine storeys to provide 385 residential units and retail and office space on the ground floor.

173 of the units are proposed to be affordable housing.

There will also be car and cycle parking.

A planning statement with the revised application said: "The amended proposed development will deliver a number of significant benefits including the delivery of new homes including affordable homes, a reduced number of car trips arising from car free development, improvements to air quality associated with a reduction in road traffic emissions, economic benefits, a contribution to community infrastructure under CIL and a new high-quality public realm."

The application has received over 800 objections on the Richmond Council website and over 200 comments on the Mayor of London website.

Many of the objects raise concerns of the size of the development and the traffic that the development could create.

One objecter said: "The size of the proposed buildings will dwarf the whole of this residential area both by the number and the height of the buildings which is totally out of sync with the surrounding area.

"The plot is too small for such a huge development."

Another said: "The local infrastructure simply can't support such a massive development with such high density housing. Traffic is already horrendous around there, especially with the level crossing at Manor Road.

"The works alone will bring the area to a standstill for years and have a negative impact on the area, particularly affecting kids going to and from local schools."

They added: "The size of the buildings will also dwarf all the existing residential streets around there, damaging the character of the neighbourhood. The whole project needs a complete rethink."

The Kew Society and The Richmond Society have also objected to the plans.

The Kew Society said: "We remain opposed to the plans as being overbearing, too dense and an urban scheme for a suburban area, fundamentally altering the nature of the area."

You can view the details of their objection here.

Residents can submit their comments here.