The latest proposals for Gunnersbury Park request 19 live event days per year
Hounslow Council is set to decide on the future of events at Gunnersbury Park later this week.
The Planning Committee will consider whether to approve plans to hold up to 19 days of events per calendar year between January 2027 and December 2031. The application originally went before the committee on August 6, however the decision was deferred to consider fewer event days at Gunnersbury Park, which hosted Jimmy Eat World and Lenny Kravitz concerts last month.
Originally, the Gunnersbury Estate CIC had 28 live event days over a 10-year period. The CIC then reduced this amid community backlash to the events, to 22 live days per year.
The latest proposals set to be voted on are lower, at 19 live event days per calendar year. This permission will be granted for five years instead of the original 10. This will include a maximum of 115 operational days per year. This includes live performance days, set-up days and construction days.
There will be two bands relating to the capacity of events held at the park. Band 1 permits 20,000-29,999 attendees – this will be capped at nine days per year.
Band 2 allows for between 3,500 and 19,999 attendees for ten days per year. For Band 1, the off-site music noise cap has also been reduced by two decibels.
Event arenas (the Old Cricket Pitches and South Playing Fields) will occupy no more than 13 per cent of total park space (or 14.5 per cent excluding ponds). Most of the park will remain open to the public during event windows.
The trackway route across the site includes two dedicated crossing points for park users. These points are stewarded during live and set-up days, and left open on inactive days.
Big money spinner
Live events in 2025 generated £950,000 for the park, with commercial income now making up two thirds of the Gunnersbury CIC budget. Council fees account for 20 per cent.
Hounslow and Ealing Council’s service fees are set to end in 2028, creating a 20 per cent funding deficit that the CIC says event revenues are vital to offset.
The latest application has received 15 objections following the deferral, with hundreds recorded before the latest changes. Concerns were raised about the loss of public space, bass noise, traffic congestion and anti-social behaviour.
Council officers have recommended that the plans be approved, arguing that the proposed harm would be temporary, with disturbances mitigated by the newest conditions.
The report states: “The proposed change of use on the Metropolitan Open Land is considered appropriate, as most of the park would still open for public, and the use of the park remains as recreational, arts and cultural in nature.
“The proposal would provide economic and cultural benefits to the borough and London. It is considered that the benefits of the proposal outweigh the harm with the mitigation of conditions in this planning permission and the licence obtained by the applicant.”
The application will be decided by the Hounslow Council Planning Committee on Thursday, September 3 at 7pm.
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