Residents fear Goldhawk plans to get go-ahead

The fruit smoothie maker would be forced to relocate from its 'Fruit Towers' building, along with three other businesses, removing 182 workers from the estate.

And neighbours fear the new blocks would dwarf their own homes and nearby Brackenbury Primary School, causing overshadowing and traffic chaos.

Campaigners will descend on Hammersmith Town Hall for a planning committee meeting on Wednesday, in which councillors are being urged to rubber stamp the plans.

Rosemary Pettit, who lives in Bradmore Park Road and is secretary of Brackenbury Residents' Association, said: "There's one massive block which, although it's only four storeys, will tower over the playground at Brackenbury Primary School and will be a huge addition to their skyline.

"It's over-development - everything is being squeezed into a half acre site, with tiny little gardens and a canyon-like effect up against a brick wall and general overlooking of neighbours.

"Innocent has been a great neighbour to local schools and elsewhere, and they don't want to go. We are concerned about the tenants and the loss of 182 jobs and some thriving small businesses, and we're not convinced that the commercial space offered by the developer would in any way remedy that."

A report to Hammersmith and Fulham Council states that the 89 per cent of the new homes - 27 flats and 24 mews houses - would be for private sale, while 11 per cent - six flats - would be set aside for affordable shared ownership, a figure which the council deems 'acceptable'.

Officers also state that "neighbouring residents and the school would not be significantly adversely affected by the proposed development."

The plans drew fire from Labour leader Stephen Cowan, who claimed the council has shown a 'lack of even-handedness' following two years of private discussions with the developers.

A council spokeswoman said: "We do not comment on the pros or cons of planning applications before councillors have properly considered them alongside the planning officers' recommendations.

"The council wrote to over 3,000 residents about this scheme. We also convened the first planning forum with interest groups, residents associations and ward councillors specifically to discuss this scheme with the applicants, enabling an in-depth understanding to be gleaned about people's views. That process led to some modifications to the scheme."

No-one from Innocent was available for comment.