Assessment of Boatyard Facilities on the River Thames - Mayor of ...

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Relationship to adjoining land uses/other boatyard facilities:
The redundant boatyard covers the northern part <strong>of</strong> the Ait, whilst the southern part
<strong>of</strong> the Ait is undeveloped, being mainly wooded and an important wildlife habitat. The
site is near to a number <strong>of</strong> other boatyard facilities located in Brentford, namely MSO
Marine Construction, SPL Marine and Brentford Dock Marina.
Access arrangements (capacity, proximity to major roads):
There is no vehicular access to the Ait. It is only possible to reach it by boat (although
the approved redevelopment proposals provide a new footbridge link to the Ait).
Comments (2000)
Lots Ait was an important boatyard, possessing three dry docks but has been derelict
for many years. The marine infrastructure however (such as the dry docks) is still
capable <strong>of</strong> being brought back into use (as proposed in the approved redevelopment
scheme).
Comments (2007)
The Council is in the process <strong>of</strong> commencing legal action with regard to the provision
<strong>of</strong> upgraded facilities on the River Thames in line with a section 106 agreement. The
most recent committee report <strong>of</strong> the planning Officers at Hounslow on this matter
can be found at:
http://213.210.33.3/Published/C00000236/M00003572/AI00028797/$FERRYQUAYS
DiscussionReportforIBACFinalNov061.docA.ps.pdf.
With regard to Lots Ait it appears that Rialto Nomes plc has sold on its interest in the
disused boatyard to Hither green Developments? without implementing the S106
agreement that sought to secure its use either as a leisure club or the restoration <strong>of</strong>
the dock structures for use.
The extract from the committee report concerning Lots Ait is as follows.
“Lots Ait
5.24 At the time outline planning permission was granted, it was recognised that any
development <strong>of</strong> the mainland Ferry Lane site must tie in improvements to Lots Ait.
This would include an ecological management plan for the island and also either (i)
the implementation <strong>of</strong> the proposed leisure club and first floor café and pedestrian
bridge or (ii) the restoration <strong>of</strong> the existing dock structures for use. The first <strong>of</strong> the two
options for Lots Ait under the outline scheme included a first floor café and
pedestrian bridge, with the three main docks being retained – the larger two docks
retained for boat repair / building and the third dock (split into two smaller docks)
shown as proposed for a leisure river-related use. The slipway on Lots Ait was also to
be retained. The maintenance and protection <strong>of</strong> existing areas <strong>of</strong> ecological interest
was to be achieved by the proposed ecological management plan secured as part <strong>of</strong>
the section 106 agreement.
5.25 The Lots Ait Plan for the first <strong>of</strong> the two options should have been implemented
by July 2003 or, failing that, the ‘Alternative Scheme’ (i.e. the restoration <strong>of</strong> the
existing dock structures for use) by January 2004. A reserved matters submission for
Lots Ait was refused in February 2005 principally due to the unacceptable impact <strong>of</strong>
the proposal on ecology. Given the time limitation on the first <strong>of</strong> the two options, the
section 106 agreement does require the developer to restore the existing structures
and for Lots Ait to remain as an ecological area with no development. However, this
‘Alternative Scheme’ should have been implemented by January 2004 and Members
should consider the desirability <strong>of</strong> requiring that such a scheme (including as a
minimum, restoration <strong>of</strong> existing dock structures, dock gates, ro<strong>of</strong> structures and
<strong>Assessment</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Boatyard</strong> <strong>Facilities</strong> on the River Thames Adams Hendry Consulting Ltd - April 2007