Richmond Council has rejected plans to take over a former recruitment office, Allied Source Recruitment Ltd, in Unit 4 of the Princes Works on Princes Road in Teddington.

The application, which was submitted in February of this year, proposed for a "a change of use of the building to use classes B2, B8 and E (applied flexibly)", meaning it could be used for industrial or retail purposes or for the sale of food and drink.

The site has been vacant since January 2025.

In an application document, the applicant, CPW Planning said: "The unit measures 61 sqm GIA (or approximately 67 sqm GEA). It lies within a small estate of predominantly industrial and workshop premises, with a single access off Princes Road to the south.

"The site is not safeguarded as a Locally Important Industrial Land & Business Park.

"It forms part of the Stanley Road (Teddington) Neighbourhood Centre1 in the borough's centre hierarchy and is therefore a designated 'town centre' in the terms of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), where a range of main town centre uses are supported."

However, this application was rejected on 1 May.

An Officer Report document said: "Councillor Matthew Hull objected to the application on the basis of concerns that the use of premises for class B2 Industrial would cause noise in a built-up area.

"There is also the issue of light pollution in the evenings from such premises.

"The use of premises for class E (a) retail and (b) sale of food and drink would cause extra traffic on the driveway to the industrial park and extra parking stress for residents as was witnessed when there were 3 mobile grocers on this site a few years ago."

It added: It is noted that this application forms one of four applications for change of use to use classes B2, B8 and E (applied flexibly) for Units 1, 4, 7 and 8 of Princes Works."

All four applications have been rejected.

The application for Unit 4 received 17 objection comments from the public. These were related to:

Noise, fumes, dust and disturbance to neighbouring residential properties.

Traffic generation, access constraints and harm to highway/pedestrian safety

Increase in parking demand

Lack of clarity on Class E uses

The application references town centre characteristics, but this site is instead situated in a quiet residential neighbourhood

Impact on biodiversity   

You can view the full application here.