A planning application has been submitted for a 14-room hostel in Southall by applicants who had 20-room hostel refused back in 2022.

Pal Chachu of Blackstone City Ltd and SAM Planning Services submitted the application to construct a two storey building for a 14-bedroom hostel in South Road, Southall.

The site is currently used as a private car park for Himalaya Palace Shopping Centre staff, with the project intending to remove parking spaces for vehicles.

The Palace Shopping Centre next to the proposed hostel site was previously the Himalaya Palace Cinema (credit: Google maps).

An artist impression of the existing site at 8-12 South Road, Southall (credit: Planning application).

Mr Chachu and SAM Planning Services estimate the project would cost up to £2m and would create three jobs, one full-time and two part-time roles.

The 2021 application for a 20-room hostel was denied in July 2022 due to it being considered an 'overdevelopment' of the site, with concerns about its appearance, impact on neighbouring properties, and failure to meet accommodation standards outlined in development policies.

SAM Planning Services say: "The previous application had serious Impacts of adjoining residential amenity.

"This was because the proposed development completely encloses the rear gardens of no. 1 and no. 3 Herbert Road, which do not benefit from deep rear gardens."

The proposed ground floor of the hostel in Southall, Ealing (credit: Planning application).

The proposed first floor of the hostel in Southall, Ealing (credit: Planning application).

It adds: "The previous application failed to provide suitable sized rooms inline with national and local standards.

"Some of the rooms were smaller than seven square metres and it was not clear if they all had an openable window.

"The proposal also neglected refuse and cycle storage as part of the application.

"We have now included adequate cycle storage...We have also proposed an enclose bin storage with space for at least one Eurobin Refuse, one Eurobin Recycle and one food waste bin.

"All of the proposed rooms now are a minimum of six point eight squared metres (six point five squared metres being the standard) with most being around the eight squared metres in size and this dose not include the en‐suites that they all have."

If approved, SAM Planning Services expects works to start and finish from in September to December 2024.

To read the full planning application, click here.

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