Westfield Latest: John Lewis to Open Early 2018

John Lewis - opening early next year.

John Lewis is coming to Shepherd's Bush. The new seven storey department store will open early next year, and will soon begin to recruit staff - bringing further jobs and investment to our neighbourhood.

The new roles at the store are to start in February or March 2018.

John Lewis has also submitted a Licensing application for its various restaurants and bars, which you can find here.

Cycle Superhighway Proposal - Good News?

Cycle Super Highway

Residents of Hammersmith and Chiswick aren't all thrilled about our Council's new proposals for a "Cycle Superhighway" that will run through both neighbourhoods. The Hammersmith Society, while in favour (in principle) of better cycling routes, has come out against the scheme.

Lidl to Open "Early 2018" in Shepherd's Bush

Lidl is coming to Shepherd's Bush. According to a sign in the window of the proposed new store, the supermarket chain is about to start a "full refit" of the new store, which they suggest will take 6 months, leading to an opening in "early 2018".

West 12 shoppers will surely be pleased that a big supermarket chain is backing this corner of the Bush.

Many were disappointed when discount supermarket Morrisons closed its doors, and even local MP Andy Slaughter got involved in the protest.

It's also a vote of confidence in the West 12 Shopping Centre, which has been looking a bit tatty ever since Westfield opened its doors back in 2008.

LBHF Consultation on Funfairs on 23rd October

Shepherd's Bush Green plays host to a number of fun fairs at various times of year, but not everyone is delighted. Many local residents object to the noise and disturbance, and the mess that is created.

So it's surely good news that our council, LBHF, is organizing public meeting at the town hall on 23rd October. If you'd like your voice to be heard, come along and have your say.

Hammersmith Bridge Closed from 21 - 29 October

Hammersmith Bridge will close for a week from Saturday

According to TFL, Hammersmith Bridge will be closed to traffic from  5pm on Saturday 21 October until 5am on Sunday 29 October, while essential repair works take place.

This latest bridge closure will once again create traffic chaos, forcing drivers over Chiswick Bridge or Putney Bridge instead. 

Hammersmith Bridge currently operates under severe weight restrictions, with only one bus in each direction permitted on the bridge at any one time.

Historic Buildings Group AGM on 14th November

Hammersmith and Fulham Historic Buildings Group are having their annual AGM at the Dorsett Hotel, Shepherds Bush Green, on Tuesday 14th November.  Doors will open at 6.30pm, and the meeting starts at 7pm. Anyone who is interested in the history of Shepherd's Bush - and its preservation - is welcome to come along and get involved. The historic fabric of our neighbourhood is under constant threat - earlier this year we lost the lovely Art Deco Cineworld in Hammersmith - replaced by a big hole in the ground after our local Council killed the development, without any apparent plan for what might replace it.

Old Laundry Site Planning Application

Old Laundry Site

A new planning application has been submitted for the old Spring Grove Laundry site that runs next to Shepherd's Bush market (the laundry itself closed in 2009).

You can't see the site easily from the street, but if you take the train from Shepherd's Bush Market Tube Station to Hammersmith - you can get a pretty good view.

White City Living Video

In the video above you can catch a glimpse of what White City will look like when St James have finished their White City scheme, known as "White City Living". St James is the property developer currently re-developing the old M&S warehouse site to the east of Wood Lane, next door to Westfield. You can see our post about their original plans back in 2014.  In May 2015 they got planning approval for their proposed steel and glass project, which will be not unlike Paddington Basin in appearance and design.

Tube Strike Planned for Thursday

Central Line and Hammersmith & City line are likely to be affected

London Underground station staff may be striking again on Thursday.

Members of the drivers' union Aslef are set to strike on Thursday in a dispite over working conditions. Talks between the two sides are supposed to continue today.

Even if the strike is only a partial one, conditions will be horrendous for those able to get to work. Thursday might be a day to work from home, for those who can.