Kew Bookshop saved from demolition

West London's Kew Bookshop has been saved from demolition after a planning application was refused.

Owner Isla Dawes said she was "giddy" after finding out the news last night (2nd June), when Richmond Council posted a notice to its website announcing the application by landlords CP Holdings and Burning Issue Ltd, to demolish the “charming wooden building” which houses the bookshop and replace it with a brick construction, had been refused.

Dawes had argued the work would see her bookshop demolished and subsequently close because she would not be able to afford the higher rent on a new, modern double premises.

Altogether more than 1,800 people had signed a petition against the proposal and 400 had submitted official objections to it.

Dawes said: “I felt giddy when I saw the application had been refused before going to committee. Obviously we don’t know if the landlords will appeal, but I am absolutely thrilled that the application failed at the first hurdle and we will hopefully be able to keep the bookshop open. It has been a real example of a community pulling together – in all I think we had 1,800 names on the petition and around 400 formal objections to the application on Richmond Council’s website.”

She added: “Lots of people said to me if the bookshop was forced to close it would be unlikely someone would open another one because it is too much of a risk in this climate. It is tough and has been for a while so it is unlikely someone would open a new shop.”

Dawes said there had been “a small spike” in sales and footfall at the bookshop following the increased attention surrounding the petition. "I hope we are now here to stay," she said.

Among the objections to the application from residents were that the Kew bookshop was “a vital part of Kew village” and “the human face of an authentic community providing much more than just books.”

The planning application was rejected because the proposed substantial demolition of the building, loss of the original wooden character, and replacement of a low rise single storey building with a two storey building would be "detrimental to the character and appearance" of the designated Building of Townscape Merit and the character and appearance of the Kew Gardens and Kew Conservation Area, a council spokesperson said.