Plans to convert a long-empty office tower in West London into a major co-living development have been given the green light by local authorities.
Council Backs Transformation of Vacant Block
Hounslow Council approved the application for Chiswick Tower on Thursday, December 4, 2025. The project will see the largely vacant office building redeveloped to provide 394 co-living units. This modern form of housing offers tenants private bedrooms and bathrooms but shared communal kitchens, living areas, and workspaces, akin to high-specification student accommodation.
Alongside the co-living rooms, the scheme includes the construction of 23 new homes for social rent. This provision breaks down into six one-bedroom flats, five two-bedroom flats, eight three-bedroom flats, and four four-bedroom flats. These will be built on-site, replacing an existing two-storey annex with a new nine-storey block. Three of these social rent homes will be fully wheelchair-accessible.
Addressing Transport Concerns and Station Upgrades
The proposal was not without controversy. Two local MPs, Ruth Cadbury and Andy Slaughter, opposed the plans, citing fears that the influx of hundreds of new residents would exacerbate congestion at the already busy Gunnersbury Station.
In response, the approved plans incorporate several measures aimed at mitigating this impact and facilitating future station improvements:
- Significant upgrades to the station forecourt, including a redesigned entrance, new seating, and improved lighting.
- A legal requirement to safeguard part of the development site for 25 years to ensure land is available for potential wider station upgrades.
- A "13-year trigger" clause that obliges all relevant parties to begin preparing a design for station improvements, with the developer contributing £50,000 for feasibility studies.
Two preliminary design concepts have already been drafted. One option features a new 21-person lift for step-free access and an extra staircase, while the other proposes two lifts, a relocated staircase, a new staircase, and an extended platform. Crucially, the developer is not committed to funding the construction of these upgrades but is required to ensure its work does not prevent them from happening in future.
A New Lease of Life for an Unloved Building
Councillors acknowledged that the current Chiswick Tower is neither ideal nor visually appealing. The choice was presented as one between complete demolition or finding a viable new use for the structure. With the building having stood empty for several years, the decision to repurpose it was ultimately supported by all councillors present at the planning meeting.
This major development in Chiswick signals a growing trend towards co-living as a solution to housing demand in the capital, while also attempting to balance new residential growth with necessary infrastructure improvements.
