The head of the Brentford High Street development is to appear before Brentford Dockers to explain exactly what is happening.
As local frustration grows, a meeting will be given a presentation by David Laycock, Senior Town Planning Manager for the Irish property company, Ballymore.
Everyone is being invited and it promises to be a lively occasion regarding the future of the large area south of the High Street, which Ballymore largely owns.
Mr Laycock will present an overview of what has happened over the last eighteen months to two years and, most importantly, Ballymore's plans to bring forward a master-plan for the site in 2011, in consultation with all the stakeholders in the area. He will also give an overview of who Ballymore are and other projects they have developed in London.
He told the Hounslow Chronicle recently that they wished to start demolishing derelict buildings, explaining: This is something we want to get on with sooner rather than later. We need to discuss the matter with the council but there are a number of buildings along Brent Way and in the High Street that aren't safe to be used. There are some 1960's constructions that are in a bit of a state.
"In the long term these are spaces which we hope we can use to contribute to the regeneration of Brentford. We did a lot of consultation exercises with locals last summer and we hope to be able to draw up plans for the waterside regeneration at some point this year."
Ballymore was one of many Irish property companies affected by the recent Irish property collapse.
It was set up in 1982 by Sean Mulryan and, at its peak, it had development plans amounting £15 billion - yes, £15 billion - in Britain, Ireland and Europe.
At the peak of the property boom, it was developing 18,000 homes and some four million sq ft of commercial space in Britain alone, notably in London's docklands. It also had, and continues to havem extensive interests in eastern Europe, Prague, Berlin and Bratislava - as shown by its impressive website at www.ballymoreproperties.ie.
It was named in the Irish Times as being one of ten developers which were going into Ireland's National Asset Management Agency.
So the big question for Mr Laycock is - has the Irish property crisis affected the development of Brentford High Street in any way? Is it still a priority. Or will it lead to further delays?
You can put this, and other points, to Mr. Laycock.
We will report on his responses.
Thursday 7 April - The meeting will be following the business of the BDRA AGM at 8pm in the Residents Club Room, Brentford Dock. All are welcome.
