Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Civic Campus project will see a range of amenities delivered at the King Street site
Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Civic Campus scheme has been granted late-night opening hours as the flagship project nears completion.
The licence, approved for the Civic Campus Building, allows for activities including the playing of music and films and sales of alcohol until 3am, seven-days-a-week.
An earlier closing time of 11pm was granted for the outdoor Civic Avenue and Unity Square.
Six applications for provisional statements, which provide licensing frameworks for premises still in construction, were also green-lit for spaces including the Campus’ rooftop restaurant.
The submissions, which went before Hammersmith and Fulham Councils’ Licensing Sub-Committee last night (September 22), indicate the scheme is getting closer to its full unveiling after years of delays.
There was concern earlier this year when lead contractor Ardmore entered administration, though the council said there would only be a few changes to its schedule and that it had “contingency plans” in place.
Once complete, the project will repurpose the King Street site to deliver a complex with homes, bars, workspaces, cultural venues and a refurbished town hall.
Well-known companies such as the cinema chain Curzon and Gail’s are reportedly set to take on spaces in the campus.
Alongside the Civic Campus premises licence application, Thomas and Thomas Partners LLP, on behalf of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, sought six provisional statements for areas such as the new skypark.
Provisional statements enable applicants to determine whether a premises yet to be finished would be granted a licence once the building works are complete.
For the Civic Campus proposals, they relate to premises for which tenants are yet to be secured. Once they have the operators will then need to apply for their own premises licences.
Two objections were received by residents during consultation with concerns including the late opening hours.
One objector wrote: “The hours applied for – open and selling until 3am every day of the week Monday to Sunday! – are excessive for all the premises in this 100% residential area around King Street.
“The hours appear to be for a ‘night club’ style licence which is completely unacceptable. Normal closing time of 11pm Monday to Sunday is acceptable. Special application for New Year’s Eve would be acceptable.”
Speaking at last night’s meeting, Una-Jane Winfield, who lives in Hammersmith, told members the area surrounding the Campus is primarily residential.
Noting the 204 homes built as part of the new complex, she said: “I will be absolutely amazed if any of the new residents, if they actually live there, will put up with an alcohol licence and parties and music blaring from the top floor until 3 o’clock in the morning. It’s absolutely outrageous.”
Ms Winfield also warned about the likely increase in ride-hailing firms on King Street, with the proposed licences likely “to cause a good deal of trouble with Uber and Lyft parking”.
“I think this is a very unwise application. I think this should be restricted to 11pm normal licensing hours.”
Alun Thomas, of Thomas and Thomas, described the Campus as a “major regeneration scheme” which will deliver a range of improvements to the site.
He said: “The whole point is to breathe new life into the western end of King Street and help spread the economic activity from the [Hammersmith] Broadway and its unique and comprehensive transport connections to the new Unity Square and its surrounding retail and office space.”
On the requested hours, he said these are only suggested, and that there are mitigations such as a dispersal plan which will manage any potential issues.
Asked by Conservative councillor Aliya Afzal-Khan about the justification for the 3am closing times, Mr Thomas said: “We are not saying these events will take place until 3am every day of the week. But there will be some events that go until 3 o’clock in the morning, and of course it saves having to apply for temporary event notices.”
Ms Winfield reiterated over the course of the meeting that the late-night hours do not align with other premises on King Street, and that she remains concerned about the noise and other disturbances from patrons leaving the Campus.
“It’s just completely intolerable,” she said. “Why the council wants to annoy the neighbours so much I don’t know.”
Mr Thomas, for his part, repeatedly highlighted the “unique” opportunity arising from the scheme, adding there are “appropriate safeguards in place”.
The premises licence and all six provisional statement applications were granted by members.
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