The long-awaited planning application for the Twickenham Riverside development has been submitted by Richmond Council.

The application includes proposals to demolish all existing structures on the site, which includes a former swimming pool and the buildings at the corner of Water Lane and The Embankment, along with the river-facing piece of land in front of Diamond Jubilee Gardens and build 39 residential apartments, commercial and retail space, seasonal units and car parking.

The apartments proposed are one, two and three bedroom homes, 15 per cent of which will be affordable.

The plans, which the council has been consulting on for two years, include two three to four storey buildings.

Also proposed are 23 parking spaces along the river, a contentious issue for people.

The latest consultation on the development showed 22 per cent of respondents (97 people) agreed with the proposals, 66 per cent (298 people) disagreed, and 12 per cent (55 people) neither agreed nor disagreed.

Community group Twickenham Riverside Park Team launched a petition three months ago calling for parking to be moved from the Embankment and proposed an underground car park be built under the site.

The online petition has reached 2,022 signatures.

The council acknowledged it was “clear parking on the Embankment was an important issue” for people.

In the consultation report it stated: “We are exploring existing parking arrangements in the wider area.

“Parking is being considered separately to the planning application.”

Cllr Pamela Fleming, Richmond Council cabinet member for environment, business and community, said: “We can’t consider this as an isolated project.

“The Embankment is first and foremost a road.

“It is one that is vital to the traffic flow in the town centre and access to Eel Pie Island for residents and businesses.

“We need to look at parking and traffic across the whole of Twickenham.

“And, if feasible, we will consider removing some parking from the Embankment in the future.”

The parking spaces, of which six are disabled spots, include 21 for residents and two disabled spaces for the commercial units.

A total of 60 cycle spaces are provided at lower ground floor level for the apartments alongside eight for the commercial development.

There were three objections on the application at the time of writing, one stating the plans are “grossly out of character” with the environment and are of “no benefit” to residents and visitors.

The other two involve concerns about “wasting” the riverside by including parking and housing.

To view the planning application go here. 

What’s your view? Contact: grainne.cuffe@newsquest.co.uk