The Old Chiswick Protection Society, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Hounslow

Facts

The Old Chiswick Protection Society, a charitable trust founded over 50 years ago to preserve features of historical, architectural and artistic interest in or near Old Chiswick, challenged the London Borough of Hounslow's decision of 20 January 2026 granting planning permission for the redevelopment of 1 Burlington Lane, Chiswick. The site holds a vacant five-storey office building within the Chiswick House Conservation Area, close to Chiswick House, Hogarth House and the Old Chiswick Conservation Area with its 70 listed buildings. The Council had refused an earlier application by notice dated 31 March 2023 on grounds of housing mix, unacceptable living conditions and poor design, but a Planning Inspector allowed the appeal by a decision dated 12 April 2024, granting permission for 104 flats ("the Fallback Scheme"), which has since been implemented. Burlington Properties London Limited, the interested party, then applied for a larger scheme of 132 flats plus a terrace of three houses. The officer's report and the presentation to the planning committee described the Fallback Scheme as of poor design and poor accommodation quality, and the committee granted permission on 7 August 2025. HHJ Karen Walden-Smith granted permission for judicial review on the papers by order dated 22 May 2026 on a single ground with two alternative limbs.