The Planning Committee of Richmond upon Thames Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 18 March 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a significant planning application for a residential development at Clifford House, 424 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen.

Planning Application for Clifford House, East Sheen

The primary item scheduled for discussion is a proposal for the erection of a part two, part three, and part four-storey building at Clifford House, 424 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, SW14 7JX. The development, put forward by Williams Property Group Ltd, seeks to construct 12 residential units, comprising nine one-bedroom and three two-bedroom flats. The proposal also includes provision for cycle parking, refuse storage, landscaping, and amendments to the site access.

The report pack indicates that the recommendation is to delegate authority to the Head of Development Management to approve the application, subject to the completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement and adherence to specified conditions and informatives.

The report details that this application follows an earlier grant of planning permission (ref: 22/3165/FUL) for a development of eight residential units and a ground-floor commercial unit. The current proposal represents an increase of four flats, achieved through greater massing of the rear wing and the loss of the commercial unit. Construction has already commenced on the site, meaning the extant permission is considered a significant fallback position.

Key considerations for the committee include the principle of brownfield redevelopment, which is strongly supported by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the London Plan, particularly given the borough's housing land supply situation. The design of the development, its scale, and massing in relation to neighbouring properties are also to be assessed.

A significant area of discussion is expected to be the impact on residential amenity. The report highlights potential harm to the amenity of occupants at 61 Clifford Avenue and 422 Upper Richmond Road West, citing concerns over loss of light, visual intrusion, and enclosure. The report notes that the extant permission already caused some harm, and this proposal, while only modestly worse, exacerbates these issues. The assessment will involve weighing this harm against the benefits of delivering additional homes on brownfield land.

Other aspects scheduled for consideration include residential standards, affordable housing viability, infrastructure impacts, sustainability measures, transport, biodiversity, flood risk, air quality, and fire safety. The report indicates that the scheme largely meets energy policy requirements, with a significant reduction in CO2 emissions and the provision of green roofs. Transport assessments suggest minimal impact on the highway network, with cycle provision compliant with standards.

The report also addresses the loss of the ground-floor Class E commercial unit, noting that while not welcomed, there is no strong policy basis to resist its loss in this location. The financial viability assessment suggests that the scheme, even with the uplift in units, is not viable for affordable housing contributions, with a late-stage review mechanism to be secured via a Section 106 agreement.

The committee will also review the minutes of the previous Planning Committee meeting held on 18 February 2026.