First occupations are expected in spring 2001 with completion in 2004.Previous occupiers on this brownfield site include British Gas, Peerless Pumps, a soap factory, boatbuilder and distillery.Building bridges The Ferry Quays developers also own an island and are “looking to attract boat-building companies to establish premises. We are also building a pedestrian bridge to provide access to the island”.It’s a café, no, it’s a restaurant, no, it’s … Brentford High Road has its first trendy eatery – Fat Boys, a greasy spoon by day, Thai restaurant by night. Other nearby restaurants and pubs are located on and near Strand on the Green in Chiswick.The golden mile Already well under construction is the massive new headquarters complex of Glaxo SmithKline which opens next year. The new buildings will grace this already buoyant commercial stretch of the A4 in Brentford.The green machine Syon House is in Brentford and Kew Gardens is across the Thames Brentford has music and steam museums and sports clubs.

Waterman’s Art Centre is on Brentford High Street, and Fountain Leisure Centre is on Chiswick High Street, opposite Kew Bridge House.ContactsBrentford Estates, 020-8400 2001; Fairview, 0800 7314477; Featherstone Leigh, 020-8940 1575; Barratt 020-8607 1900; Laing, 0118 936 4000. Waterview estate agents specialise in waterside properties and have a branch in Barnes serving the Brentford area, 020-8748 8668.. Terry Watson’s skin must be very thick. Unannounced, he could turn up on the street where you live, watch the goings-on of you and your neighbours and make a note of who parks where, how many dogs are barking and who plays their stereo loudly.

He may even knock at your door and ask you what the neighbours are like. It’s all in a day’s work for Terry, an ex-policeman, who is paid by potential purchasers to “survey” the area where they intend to live

Terry Watson’s skin must be very thick. Unannounced, he could turn up on the street where you live, watch the goings-on of you and your neighbours and make a note of who parks where, how many dogs are barking and who plays their stereo loudly. He may even knock at your door and ask you what the neighbours are like. It’s all in a day’s work for Terry, an ex-policeman, who is paid by potential purchasers to “survey” the area where they intend to live.
You will pay out thousands to surveyors, solicitors and estate agents when you move home but none of this cash will go towards telling you what it’s actually like to live in the street where you’ve bought. What happens in the local park during the evening, will you be able to park your car outside your house after six and do school children and their parents’ cars invade the street at 3pm?”People can view a property with rose-tinted glasses,” says Terry.