Plans for the scheme dubbed the Octopus, had initially been rejected by the council due to the advertising space on the development being too eye-catching and thus a hazard to drivers.
Now the architects in charge of the Octopus, Make, have overhauled the plans and reduced the height of the structure by three metres. They have also increased the amount of office space to 52,000 square feet and have entirely removed the advertising screen facing the motorway on the east side.
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The new plans also allow for 3,500 square feet of retail space.
Kim Gottlieb, managing director of London & Bath Estates said: “The Octopus is an original scheme – its striking design and unique location make it a real landmark for West London and a new destination for international and local business.
“Over the past year we have taken on board a range of comments, made some significant design changes and resolved the critical issue of highway safety. I am confident that we now have a scheme that is right for Hounslow Council and for the local area. I now look forward to engaging with the Council and embarking on the final leg of the Octopus’s journey.”
The new plans for the site also include a car park at the basement level allowing the grounds to be landscaped, as well as a viewing gallery and rooftop garden open to the public.
It is hoped that once completed the Octopus will create approximately 350 jobs for the area and provide a much-needed boost to the local economy.
Editor’s notes: In October 2011, Hounslow Borough Council granted permission to develop the Octopus. However, construction did not commence.
Amended plans of a scheme that was housing-led were being worked up by architects in 2015.
As of June 2023, neither development had been built at the site.