Residents angry at approval of 26-storey block
COUNCIL BASE TO BECOME OFFICES, SHOPS AND HOMES
A MAJOR redevelopment of Ealing Council offices has been given the go ahead after a third meeting was held by the authority’s planning committee to discuss the plan.
The scheme to demolish the council’s current office buildings at Perceval House, in Uxbridge Road, has faced growing opposition from residents and community groups, with more than 2,200 objections as of March 31.
The controversial plan will make way for new energy-efficient offices, commercial space and 477 homes, including a 26-storey tower that has been drawn up by Ealing Council in a joint venture with Vistry Partnerships.
The plan was first deferred on February 17 as councillors hit out at the lack of family-sized homes – just seven three-bed homes were designed out of the 477 flats.
Changes to the plans were made to accommodate 28 three-bedroom flats, which was granted approval on March 10, but heavy backlash followed over the “shambolic” meeting riddled with technical errors and concerns over inaccurate information being relayed to councillors.
Ealing Council later confirmed due to the technical errors, which left some of the debate and vote heard in private, the decision “cannot stand”, and rescheduled for the planning committee to consider the application again.
Despite attempts to delay the controversial meeting until after the pre-election period, the committee discussed the application on March 31, approving it as eight councillors in favour, four against and one abstention.
In representations from campaign group Save Ealing Centre, it warned approval of the plan could leave the council open to legal challenge. They said consistent feedback has been given that the tower block is too tall and overbearing, and would have a harmful impact on nearby listed buildings and conservation areas.
A video was also played of residents at social housing for the over-55s, telling the committee the impact the loss of light would have on their lives.
One Apsley House resident said: “There’s 70 people in this block and most of us are over 65. Quite a few of us can’t go out.
“We rely on the sun coming through our windows which is why we have such large windows, and we’re going to have no sun all of a sudden.
“What are we supposed to do, sit in the dark all day? I know we’re pensioners, but we’re still citizens and we’re still your constituents. It’s about time instead of thinking about the mighty pound you started thinking of your constituents.”
Speeches in objection were also given by Ealing Broadway councillor Seema Kumar and Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq.
In favour, Sarah Parkinson representing the applicant spoke in response to concerns the development drawn up several years ago was not relevant in a post-pandemic world.
She said: “The coming months will see Ealing residents return to normal after a year of lockdown, while some things will change the need for an affordable place to live, work and shop will not.
“If anything, Covid has increased the desire for people to live, work and shop locally and this scheme responds to that desire to stay local and delivers all of that in the heart of Ealing Broadway.”
Among councillors’ concerns was the separation of affordable and market housing blocks instead of ‘pepper potting.’
Cllr Jon Ball also called for the push for more affordable housing for what is the council’s own scheme on its own land.
Cllr Miriam Rice however, supporting the development, said: “I think this development is the kind of thing we need in order to meet those needs of people in Ealing that are suffering in poorer accommodation in Ealing, so I’m very supportive of what’s being provided there when I think about everything on balance.”