The Gunnersbury CIC has submitted an application to Hounslow Council for permission to hold events and festivals in the Park over the next 10 years. The Friends received a notification letter dated 27 November with 21 days allowed for a response. Anyone can submit comments and we know local organisations and individuals will be doing so. The formal description of the proposals is as follows:

“Temporary change of use of areas of Gunnersbury Park for the staging of temporary events
between May 2026 and May 2036. Up to 28 live event days per calendar year, exclusive of 90 days of set-up, inactive and removal days. Including the erection of associated temporary structures, fencing, ancillary concessions and facilities”.

You can see the 25 relevant documents by going to Hounslow Council’s planning search pages and using the reference P/2025/3274. The proposals have been drafted and submitted by a planning agent Firstplan on behalf of the CIC. The documents include a planning statement, landscape restoration plan, event and sound management, a socio-economic impact statement and site plans. Some of this is complex information and will take time to get to grips with. Everything must comply with the existing licence, both the Mayor of London’s and Hounslow’s planning policies and planning law, not least because Gunnersbury is a Grade II* Registered Park.