The Planning Committee of Hounslow Council met on Thursday, 5 March 2026, to discuss several planning applications and other related matters. The meeting's agenda included decisions on major redevelopment projects at 980 Great West Road (formerly GSK headquarters) and the Central Park Estate, as well as other planning applications for individual sites.

980 Great West Road (GSK)

The committee was scheduled to consider a hybrid planning application for the phased redevelopment of the former GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) global headquarters site. This major application proposed a mixed-use neighbourhood, including a significant number of new homes, purpose-built student accommodation, co-living units, flexible commercial and employment floorspace, and extensive new public realm. The proposals aimed to retain a substantial portion of the existing basement and structural elements to reduce embodied carbon, aligning with circular economy principles. The application also included a detailed design for the initial phase and an outline for subsequent phases, governed by a comprehensive Design Code and Parameter Plans. Key considerations for this application included the scale and height of proposed buildings, their impact on the setting of heritage assets such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Heritage Site, Syon Park, and Boston Manor House, as well as townscape and visual impacts. The scheme also addressed transport, energy, sustainability, employment generation, and the provision of community and social infrastructure, including a new GP surgery and nursery.

Central Park Estate

The committee was also scheduled to discuss a proposal for the erection of four commercial units on the Central Park Estate, intended for general industrial, storage and distribution, research and development, and mixed employment uses. This development, located on land designated as Grey Belt¹, was considered a departure from the adopted Development Plan but was supported by the emerging Local Plan as a Locally Significant Industrial Site within the Heathrow Opportunity Area. The application included plans for ancillary offices, a gatehouse, cycle hub, café, community amenity space, and associated infrastructure. Key issues for this application included its Green Belt status, the proposed uses, employment generation, transport improvements, sustainability standards, and ecological impacts.

Other Planning Matters

In addition to the major planning applications, the committee's agenda included the minutes from the previous meeting on 5 February 2026, and a report on any other urgent business that the Chair considered necessary to discuss. The date of the next meeting was also noted as 9 April 2026.