Ealing Broadway Crossrail Plans Get Green Light
Construction of new station to begin next year
Proposals for an overhaul of Ealing Broadway station as part of Crossrail upgrades were last night (Wednesday 13 August) approved by Ealing Council’s Planning Committee.
The approval was welcomed by Julian Bell leader of Ealing Council but campaigners from Save Ealing Centre (SEC) were angered by what they saw as an attempt by Crossrail to minimise public opposition to the plans by timing the submission of their approval during the school holidays. Originally they had been told public information meetings on the plans would be held prior to permission being granted.
The new station, designed by Bennetts Associates, will have a long, curved canopy running the length of the forecourt. The existing façade will be replaced with a new glass structure and a new entrance twice the size of the existing one.
There will aslo be a larger ticket hall and 17 standard ticket gates plus one wider one, four new lifts, toilet facilities and longer platforms to accommodate the trains.
Construction work is expected to begin in summer 2015 and to last around 18 months. Network Rail, which is delivering the station improvements, will set up worksites in summer 2015 and will use part of the station forecourt and a corner of Haven Green.
Linked to this, the council will also carry out work to transform the area around the station, improving safety and transport links and upgrading the look and the feel of the area. Crossrail and Network Rail will be working with Ealing Council to ensure that the impact of the works for local people is kept to an absolute minimum.
A joint information event between Ealing Council and Crossrail is planned in September to inform local people about the plans for the station and to seek comments on proposals for the development of the area around the station.
Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said: “The arrival of Crossrail will bring wide-ranging benefits to our borough, including major improvements to Ealing Broadway station. The council worked closely with Crossrail to achieve a very high quality design for the station including plans for a whole new station forecourt with a stunning canopy that I believe will create a fitting gateway to Ealing town centre and set the design standards for other developments around the station.”
Matthew White, Crossrail Surface Director, said: “Crossrail will continue to liaise with local people as the detail of the designs for the station is developed. We will also be working hard to make sure that the station improvements are made with the absolute minimum of disruption to local people and businesses.”
14 August 2014
