New Plans for Taxi House
An update on The Collective’s plans to redevelop the Woodfield Road site in order to:
- Introduce a new 300 bed short to medium stay hotel owned and operated by The Collective with a supporting food and beverage offer
- Open-up the canal and the site for the community, with around 40% of the site becoming publicly accessible along with a new pedestrian route along the canal frontage to link the site to Elmfield Way
- Provide new rehearsal and performance space that will be available to local groups
- Deliver over 1.100m2 of new flexible workspace, targeted at creative and start-up businesses in the local area to create a locally-focussed employment hub
- Introduce substantial greening and planting across the site
- Create a local Enterprise, Innovation and Community fund to support local people and initiatives
The height of the proposals would range between Ground plus 5 storeys with a taller element of Ground plus 9 storeys on the canal frontage, which is over 15 metres lower than the neighbouring Hathaway House development. In addition to reducing the height of the proposals, they have also introduced recessed windows and screening at the lower level of the windows to prevent overlooking and set-backs at upper levels in response to the feedback from the local community.
As a long-term owner and operator, The Collective claims it is committed to becoming part of the fabric of the local community and wants locals to be welcome and spend time at The Collective Taxi House and benefit from the redevelopment of the site. As part of the commitment. they are establishing a detailed draft Community Investment Programme which sets out their commitments to you, including new jobs and training opportunities for the local community, ensuring new local businesses use our workspaces and our investment in local programmes in the neighbourhood. This document is submitted in draft to ensure the local community are also given the opportunity to influence the approach post planning. As part of this, they are also seeking to establish an Enterprise. Innovation and Community fund programme, which can be allocated to other local priorities, under the guidance of a steering group of local representatives. These commitments will form part of a legally-binding Section 106 agreement accompanying any planning permission for the site.
The planning application has now been submitted to Westminster City Council and they are nonetheless committed to an ongoing dialogue with their neighbours and will shortly be hosting a series of community events over the coming months, which we hope the public will attend, to meet members of the team and discuss any issues or concerns you may have. The details of these events will follow shortly, along with a draft Community Investment Programme pack which provides details of their commitment to the local community and a genuine opportunity for local residents to influence its objectives and impact.
Contact
If you would like to receive further information about the proposals for Taxi House or to meet a member of the project team, please do not hesitate to get in touch at:
T. 020 3900 3676
E. taxihouse@kandaconsulting.co.uk
Please comment online: Westminster Council Planning