The Teddington Society Planning Group (TSPG) currently has 10 members. We all live in Teddington and have varying expertise in planning and planning systems and different tastes in architecture but, importantly, we all have an enthusiasm for the built environment and a drive to enhance the street scene in TW11.

TSPG meets every 6-8 weeks to cover new planning applications which appear on Richmond Council’s web site and to discuss other planning issues such as consultations, new developments, changes in regulations or enquiries from Teddington Society members. 

TSPG monitors planning applications for refurbishments and new builds in the town and we try to encourage residents and businesses to consider the context, the history and the character of their buildings within the streetscape when making alterations to them or building anew. We also, where necessary, make representations to the Council or developers, talk to shopkeepers and premises owners, or arrange public meetings on important changes. 

The planning applications we concentrate on are those that affect the streetscape. Normally we do not comment on minor changes or those not visible from the street unless the changes are on significant properties or liable to affect day to day life in Teddington.

Richmond Council has designated a number of areas in Teddington as conservation areas. These are places of special architectural or historic interest which needs to be preserved or enhanced. The conservation areas may contain buildings that are nationally or local listed. However, it is not always enough just to protect these buildings in isolation. Their surroundings and general environment are often of equal importance and conservation areas are intended to protect that environment. This does bring planning constraints on buildings within a conservation area, for example, permitted development (i.e. without full planning permission) may be removed in a conservation area.

We recommend awards for new or renovated buildings which have made a positive impact on our town, the most recent of which is Christ Church Apartments, which is a stunning transformation of a rundown church. 

The Teddington Society started because of trying to save Stoney Deep House. That was not achievable, but we have contributed to the preservation of the character of Teddington in a number of ways. Recent projects we have been involved in are:

  • Udney Park Playing Fields - TSPG applied for the ‘Asset of Community Value’ status (ACV) that allows community interest groups six months to make an offer for the site once it is on the market

  • Teddington Police Station – Teddington Society campaigned to ensure the site has some community use

  • Commenting on Conservation Area reviews

  • Old HSBC site – ensuring that any new building enhances this prominent site

  • Maintaining the character of shop fronts in the High Street and Broad Street – talking to shopkeepers and pointing to best practice.  

  • Campaigning against designation of land north of Teddington station as a ‘mid-rise’ zone within the Local Plan

  • Commenting on the Broad Street improvement plan

  • Commenting on schemes to add extra storeys to local block of flats or houses

TSPG maintains Teddington Society’s ‘Building of Townscape Merit’ website. This contains a short description and usually a photograph all of the locally and nationally listed buildings within TW11. 

In short, our group’s purpose is to ‘enhance the street scene in the town’. We want Teddington to continue to thrive and of course we recognise that means continuous evolution and change – but always within the context of the town’s historic Thames-side past.

Get more involved in the Planning Group?

The Planning Group is led by Rosemany McGlashon if you would like to help please contact her.