Councillors Defer Key Gunnersbury Park Events Decision

Committee concluded that a reduction in number of concerts was required

Discussion of the issue went on for over three hours. Picture: YouTube

August 11, 2026

The decision on whether Gunnersbury Park should be allowed to host large-scale commercial events for the next five years has been deferred following a long and closely watched meeting of Hounslow Council’s Planning Committee. The committee, chaired by Vice-Chair Councillor Craig Owen, spent more than three hours debating the application, which has attracted intense public interest and hundreds of objections across two rounds of consultation.

The proposal, submitted by Gunnersbury Park & Museum CIC, seeks permission for a rolling programme of 22 concerts, festivals and major outdoor events, potentially placing parts of the Grade II* listed park under commercial occupation for up to 115 days each year to allow set up and clearance until 2031. Planning officers acknowledged that the scheme would cause temporary harm to heritage assets and ecological sensitivities, but argued that the cultural and economic benefits outweigh the impacts when combined with mitigation measures such as reduced noise limits, alternating event arenas and licensing controls.

Residents, however, raised wide-ranging concerns about cumulative noise, late-night disturbance, traffic congestion, fencing, loss of access, ecological harm and the long-term commercialisation of public green space. Councillors reported receiving dozens of emails from residents ahead of the meeting. Short presentations were given by Marie Rabouhans of the West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society, Peter Bainbridge of the Gunnersbury Park Gardens Estate Residents’ Association, and two other residents. Ms Rabouhans called for a reduction in both the number of events and the length of the permission, while Mr Bainbridge urged outright rejection and argued that each event should require its own planning application rather than a blanket five-year approval. Another speaker noted that the proposed decibel limits were higher than those applied to Hyde Park where there are few residential properties nearby (An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the decibel limits for Gunnersbury Park were lower than Hyde Parl).

Chiswick Gunnersbury councillors Ron Mushiso and Joanna Biddolph both spoke against the application. Cllr Biddolph believes the current system of each event being considered separately should be maintained and says that, if the expense of each planning application is £25,000 to £30,000 as claimed by the CIC, this cost could be covered by the event organiser.

She added, "This is the single most complained about topic in my inbox and it has happened every year since 2018, except for one year when Covid restrictions prevented most festivals. The CIC must recognise that it has had a negative impact on the lives of huge numbers of people; it must recognise that residents matter."

Much of the committee’s discussion centred on whether the number of permitted event days should be reduced from the requested 22. Councillors Louki, Grewal and Owen expressed support for lowering the total, and the spokesperson for the applicant indicating they might accept 19 days which was the minimum to allow them to fulfil existing contractual discussions. Councillors Lambert and Bowring supported the full application, arguing that major events provide vital funding for park improvements. Planning officers advised that if councillors wished to reduce the number of days, the application should be deferred to allow the CIC to resubmit a revised proposal.

Councillor Louki proposed a motion to defer the decision, which was carried with eleven votes in favour, two against (from Cllrs Lambert and Bowring) and one abstention (Cllr Dunne). The deferral means the CIC will now need to consider submitting an amended application with fewer event days before the committee revisits the issue.

The meeting followed weeks of heightened debate, with residents’ groups describing the application as a potential national test case for how councils use planning powers to grant long-term commercial control over public parks. The Gunnersbury Park Gardens Estate Residents’ Association argued that the five-year permission, reduced from an initial ten-year request, remains excessive and could be renewed to create a decade of continuous occupation. They also raised concerns about the CIC’s financial sustainability, noting ongoing losses despite increased event activity and significant public funding, and pointing to several historic buildings that remain in disrepair.

Planning officers acknowledged the strength of public feeling, noting objections from local councillors and Hammersmith & Chiswick MP Andy Slaughter. Supporters of the application argued that festivals bring cultural vibrancy, attract visitors and generate essential income for the park, while long-term permission would allow the CIC to invest in infrastructure and reduce the administrative burden of repeated applications.

For now, the future of large-scale events at Gunnersbury Park remains undecided. The CIC is expected to review the committee’s comments and decide whether to submit a revised application with fewer event days, after which the Planning Committee will reconvene to make a final decision.