PLANS for the redevelopment of the former Beechams headquarters on the Great West Road were unveiled this week by developers suggesting that the area would be "opened up" to the community.

Luxury housing developers Barrat Homes is planning to build around 1,000 apartments on the 12 acre site, along with a hotel that would cater for around 200 people at the location, which they have renamed North Quarter'.

Most of the existing buildings will have to be cleared to make way for the development - apart from the listed Wallis House, which is earmarked for office accomodation. Most of the buildings will be low rise, apart from one tall building on the site of the currently derelict Westgate House - situated on the corner of Ealing Road and the A4.

A huge underground car park is planned which would accommodate most of the 1,000 car parking spaces planned for the scheme.

In the centre of the development there will be a central piazza which will act as a focal centre and provide shops and restaurants.

Barratt West London is also talking to local education and health care providers, along with businesses to develop new community facilities and jobs in Brentford for local people. Barratt West London are now considering the views received from the exhibition and will then submit a full planning application, hopefully in April. After the application has been submitted, Barratt West London will organise another exhibition later in the year.

Building is expected to take up to five years.