Hammersmith & Fulham News (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A live-in guardian has been seen at Fulham Town Hall, sparking rumours. The developer confirms it’s part of safeguarding the site during redevelopment plans.
The project, which will see the building converted into a hotel and co-working space, has been delayed due to the effects of the broader financial market and a drawn-out planning procedure, Guy Ziser, Managing Director at the property’s owner Ziser London, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Additionally, he disclosed that solutions are being explored, such as requesting a phased approach to the project, which would allow for the completion and reopening of some components earlier than others.
Until Hammersmith and Fulham councils amalgamated in 1965, the structure, which is located across from Fulham Broadway Station and a short stroll from Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge stadium, functioned as a town hall.
The previous Conservative administration’s council sold it for £10 million in 2013, although the sale was not finalized until 2017.
Until then, it remained in use as a registry office. At the time, it was described as “water damaged and dilapidated.”
The American leisure chain Dory Ventures bought the old town hall, but the council rejected the company’s 2015 proposal to tear down much of the structure and construct a new, five-story block.
Then, in 2019, it was purchased for £14.75 million by Fth Investments, where Mr. Ziser is identified as a Director of Companies House.
The next year, the plan to convert it into a 90-room boutique hotel with co-working spaces and restore public usage of areas like the concert hall was authorized. Since then, efforts to renovate the site have not yet begun, and Ziser London reportedly considered selling the building at one point.
Burlington Green Partners, a real estate advisory firm, advertised that it had been hired to market the property’s sale and was looking for an offer of more than £24.5 million.
However, the business informed the LDRS earlier this year that it had not yet updated the website and that its client had instead chosen to work with a new partner.
Mr. Ziser has also corroborated this, stating that a new strategic partner was hired in the summer of 2024 and that efforts have been made to “reposition” the scheme’s concept and image.
Several locals informed the LDRS on a recent visit to the location that not much had happened since the approval was given. According to one, scaffolding was put up but taken down about two years ago.
Another claimed to have spotted a man they believe to be one of the live-in guardians in the town hall. Advertised on the windows of the former town hall, live-in guardians inhabit empty buildings for knock-down rent.
“They have a microwave. They have a kettle. [They have] everything,”
the resident said. They added the lights are also constantly left on, which they said is ‘really annoying, actually’.
Another resident said there was an art exhibition in the town hall a few years ago, but that they had not seen much activity since.
One person the LDRS spoke to, when asked if they knew of any progress made with the town hall, said simply:
“I haven’t got a clue. It’s been empty for years, that’s all I know.”
In an interview with the LDRS since that visit, Mr. Ziser stated that “sensitivity around the listed elements within the site and how they will be incorporated into the scheme” was the reason it took so long to discharge planning conditions.
Redevelopment projects that lack affordable housing run the risk of uprooting lower-income inhabitants and exacerbating social inequality.
Anxiety about gentrification and the disappearance of long-standing communities is common, particularly if rehousing or compensation options are insufficient.
The lack of timely information, inadequate consultation, and restricted possibilities to influence development choices are common complaints from the local population.
When rebuilding is seen as forced rather than cooperatively planned, feelings of helplessness and mistrust develop.
He said that Ziser hired a new partner last summer because of the effects of the broader financial market, and that partner has “the same passion that we have to create something truly placemaking out of this iconic building.”
Since this new collaboration, we have been trying to reposition the idea and brand inside the planning consent. We are also thinking about applying to phase the scheme so that portion of it can be implemented sooner and return to the public domain.
Mr. Ziser went on to affirm that the building is guarded by live-in guardians and that regular maintenance is carried out to maintain the property’s historic integrity.
In due time, he stated, “we will be able to announce our operating team and branding.”
The former town hall will serve as “a key anchor for commercial growth in the Fulham Regeneration Area” once it reopens, according to Charlotte Dexter, a local and co-founder of the recently formed FulhamBroadwayTogether residents action group.
“We’re excited about using this listed public building for meeting friends and neighbours in public spaces and enjoying a bite to eat along with what we hear might be a very interesting wine cellar,” she said.
“It will be a gem of magnificent surroundings with 130-year old locally made stained glass windows all over. It’s almost cathedral-like.”
There are more locations in the Broadway area that are changing besides the former Fulham Town Hall. Aldi is relocating to the Broadway complex, the old station ticket office is being converted into a Wetherspoon, and the former Whole Foods will become a new M&S.
What are the concerns of residents about the redevelopment plans in Hammersmith & Fulham?
Redevelopment that diminishes or neglects to rebuild parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities is frequently opposed by locals.
Local social cohesiveness and quality of life can be negatively impacted by the loss of community facilities such as sports arenas, meeting spaces, or cultural centers.
Existing infrastructure, such as roads, public transportation, schools, hospitals, and utilities, may be strained by new developments, resulting in overcrowding and lower service quality.
Increased traffic jams, inadequate parking, and overworked public services are among the issues.
In addition to the preservation of historically or culturally valuable buildings and neighborhood character, residents are concerned about the effects on local wildlife, trees, and green areas.
A community’s distinctive identity and architectural legacy may be lost as a result of redevelopment.