Council lawyers insist a £45m scheme to redevelop Twickenham Riverside will deliver a 'exciting' and 'flourishing' destination.

The borough council's case for the scheme that will deliver a new heart for the town on the riverside was set out at a planning inquiry this morning – Tuesday.

Gardens and associated café will be removed and replaced with what the Council insists is a much larger open space. (Credit Hopkins Architects/RBC)

The scheme will include two new apartment blocks – creating 45 homes - public open space and play areas, a gastropub, café, shops and some office space.

However, the scheme is being opposed by the Twickenham Riverside Trust (TRT), which is responsible for the Diamond Jubilee Gardens.

These Gardens and associated café will be removed and replaced with what the Council insists is a much larger open space.

Significantly, much of this open space will on the embankment, replacing the existing car park that many residents accept blights the beautiful riverside location.

The Planning Inquiry, which is set to run throughout June, is to decide whether the Council should be granted a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the Diamond Jubilee Gardens land to allow the scheme to go ahead.

The Trust argues that the promised new open space is inferior to the Gardens.

It also argues one of the two planned apartment blocks on Wharf Lane should be dropped because – at 21m tall from the riverside - it is too tall and overbearing.

The case for the development was made for the Council by Andrew Tait KC in an opening statement.

He offered a damning description of the existing tiered riverside area and the Gardens – built of the site of a former open air swimming pool - with their astroturf surfaces, suggesting they are largely cut-off due to poor access.

(Credit Hopkins Architects/RBC)

He said: "The Gardens are separated from the river by a significant level change, a large unattractive retaining wall and railings, and a linear stretch of car parking along the Embankment.

"The buildings associated with the former swimming pool are derelict and hoarded off from the public due to reasons of public health and safety, resulting in a disused area that attracts fly-tipping."

He added: "It is widely acknowledged that the Gardens have been and continue to be subject to anti-social behaviour and criminal damage; this is in part attributable to their location, under-utilisation and lack of connectivity to the wider area.

"Whilst the Scheme Land has the potential to become a flourishing destination for all to enjoy, it currently includes buildings of no architectural merit and comprises a collection of spaces that lack cohesion and do not capitalise on their location on the

edge of the river Thames."

Making the case for the Council's plan, he said: "The CPO will facilitate the development, redevelopment and improvement of the Scheme Land so as to deliver significant social, economic and environmental improvements for the Borough.

"The Scheme will deliver replacement open space, including a children's play area, sensory play elements, pétanque terrain, terraced lawns, seating, areas of soft landscaping and a town square/events space, including open space wrapping around

and along Water Lane; a pedestrianised riverfront; 45 residential homes, including 21 affordable homes; an active ground floor frontage with commercial, retail and food and beverage units; a river activity zone including boat storage, changing space and pontoon; a designated servicing and loading area for Eel Pie Island; floating ecology for wildlife in the river; and ground floor public toilets."

He also insisted the Council scheme will have far more usable open space than exists at the moment, saying: "The Scheme will deliver an increase in Future Functioning Open Space from 4445 sqm to 6005 sqm, an increase of 35%."

(Credit Hopkins Architects/RBC)

Mr Tait added: "The Scheme strikes a balance between the delivery of high-quality, enlarged replacement open space and other uses which are essential to enhancing the vitality of the open space and the wider area.

"This balance is critical to making the riverside an exciting destination, so as to attract people of all ages."

The Council insists the Wharf Lane building, with its apartment and pub, is essential to provide local housing and ensure the scheme it is viable.

Mr Tait said: "The Wharf Lane building is critical to the Scheme and the delivery of economic and social benefits.

"The Wharf Lane building would create a backdrop to the proposed open space, activating the space through commercial ground floor uses and enhancing the natural surveillance of the open space.

"The proposed gastro pub/restaurant at the southern end of the ground floor of the Wharf Lane building would act as a destination for visitors and a focal point for activity."

He added: "The Scheme is the product of a rigorous design process, with input from key stakeholders throughout. It provides a whole site solution which is capable of delivering substantial social, economic and environmental benefits."

The chairman of the Twickenham Riverside Trust, Ted Cremin, is leading objections to the scheme and the Compulsory Purchase Order. Nub News will cover his opening statement to the Inquiry in following articles.