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ONLY FOOLS’ TOWER BLOCK TO BE REDEVELOPED
THE West London tower block that was the setting for beloved sitcom Only Fools and Horses is to be torn down.
Planning permission has been granted for the ongoing redevelopment of Ealing’s largest housing estate, South Acton Estate.
A total of 3,300 new homes will be built in the redevelopment, with outline planning permission granted by Ealing Council in December for 1,950 of these homes.
Part of the redevelopment will see Harlech Tower, which was used to portray the exterior of the fictional Nelson Mandela House in Peckham, where Derek “Del Boy” Trotter lived in Only Fools and Horses, demolished. The estate was also used as the backdrop for other scenes in the legendary British sitcom.
A complex application was sub- mitted by planning consultancy Barton Willmore on behalf of Acton Gardens LLP.
As well as giving basic details on the 1,950 new homes which now have permission, it also gave more detailed plans on the construction of the first 200 homes in the redevelopment, which should be complete later this year. As well as replacing all the current social housing, the new estate will have shared ownership homes which provide a route on to the property ladder, particularly for young Londoners. The estate’s regeneration is crucial if Ealing is to meet Sadiq Khan’s target for the borough to create 2,500 new “genuinely affordable” homes by 2022.
The housing target, announced in October, was the largest target for any London borough, but the Mayor also gave the council £100 million towards creating those homes.
The scheme has already picked up awards and hopes to create more “active streets” by building “smaller residential blocks”. The new estate, which will be called Acton Gardens, will include retail space, community centres and healthcare units.
There will also be reconfigured local bus routes, new parks and open spaces, larger allotments, comprehensive landscaping and “additional space” for children to play in.
Redevelopment of the estate started in 2012, with the new application covering the remaining undeveloped area of the estate. Harlech Tower is scheduled for demolition by 2024.
Bob McCurry, from Barton Willmore, said: “The council’s [decision] to grant planning permission for this scheme not only heralds a milestone in the continued regeneration of this area, but also means we are a step closer to delivering new homes for 8,000 people and helping to provide a large proportion of the borough’s affordable housing provision.”
Mark Ludlow, from Acton Gardens LLP, added: “We genuinely welcome Ealing Council’s decision which enables us to create more affordable and private homes at Acton Gardens, without comprising on quality, design and public amenities.
“London’s housing needs have changed considerably since the original masterplan was conceived, so this revised masterplan will deliver a scheme that more closely matches the community’s needs and desires.”