Forum Topic

9-42 The Broadway, W5

Please see:http://www.ealingtoday.co.uk/default.asp?section=info&page=ea9-42broadway002.htmThis proposed development opposite Ealing Broadway station, which is to be considered by the planning committee on the 24th, strikes at the heart of conservation protection in Ealing. The Council are both poacher (with their push to allow more high priced flats to be developed) and gamekeeper (with their responsibility to look after the conservation areas). This is a conflict of interest. Historic England say that the town centre conservation area will I longer be justified if this development goes ahead. Is that acceptable? Shouldn't there be a public debate first? Are you happy to see all heritage assets swept aside so that high priced new flats that locals cannot afford can be built?This development makes me mad. If you care about maintaining Ealing as a green and pleasant place for yourself and your children then please write to austins@ealing.gov.uk and oppose the development. Your comments will still be considered even though the official consultation has finished. Write to your local councillor too - before it is too late!

Julian Smith ● 3641d8 Comments

I just hope they take the opportunity to edit out the ridiculous motorway we've got running through and around the middle of our main town at the same time.

Paul James ● 3639d

Let's see what we can find out...

Julian Smith ● 3639d

There will be no value to the developer to replace or improve the shop fronts as they stand, looks to me that they are keeping the two buildings that have any historic value anyway in the plans, the rest are terrible looking anyway.I look at the plans as an improvement not anything else, but that is just my opinion.There are far more historic places in London that need protection than this strip of shops.As to the MIPIM show in Cannes well if its proved that the senior council employees are having there jolly funded they should be sacked and certainly have no part in approving plans

Declan Devine ● 3639d

If you think about the best areas of London you will realise that they do a huge amount to preserve and improve historic buildings - even the higgledy piggledy little ones like we have on this section of the Broadway. Yes, there are ugly and inappropriate modern buildings interspersed, and terrible shopfronts - but these can be sympathetically replaced and/or improved. Historic England are clear that this development is inappropriate. They are the national specialist advisors. In the planning officers' report to committee issued today the advice of Historic England is rubbished. This displays startling arrogance from the planning department - by officers who are not specialists in conservation. I have been told that developers, including Benson Elliot (the applicant for 9-42 The Broadway), are funding the trip to MIPIM in Cannes by senior council figures. I intend to find out if this is true. If it is then how can the council staff remain impartial?Complain to your councillor!

Julian Smith ● 3639d

While preserving old buildings is something good, but this particular stretch of buildings are such a mix match of old, 60s and modern that do they really need protecting, Ealing needs a boost, maybe the new development would give this, I for one can not see the worth in opposing these plans.

Declan Devine ● 3640d

It’s Historic England’s wider warning about the de-designation of the whole conservation area if this goes ahead that alarms me. Ian, the 'handful' of red brick buildings on the north side of Uxbridge Rd you seem to like could be swept away without any forewarning, as could all the others in the Conservation Area once its status is removed. Bulldozers have never been busier than they are now and the protection a Conservation Area provides against wholesale demolition is worth much more than many realise.  Don’t let it go without a fight.

Will French ● 3640d

Have you seen the comments by Historic England (formerly English Heritage)? They have completely condemned the proposals:HE response to revised application:https://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/21124839/1658002850/name/HE%20Response%2003%2002%2016%2EpdfHE response to original application:https://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/21124839/1746058515/name/HE%20Response%2016%2009%2015%2EpdfThere are actually a number of good buildings both on the (Uxbridge Rd) Broadway and (Station) Broadway frontages. The fact that not all are well looked after, and that ugly modern additions are interspersed, shouldn't mean they are swept away. Keeping one small building and two facades is not much of an improvement to the original application. What is perhaps even more important is the effect on surrounding nationally listed buildings.

Julian Smith ● 3640d

Apart from the church and a handful of red brick buildings I can't see that there's anything worth conserving in the middle of Ealing Broadway to the north of Uxbridge road. As it currently stands, Ealing Broadway is a triumph of soulless architecture and offers a very poor experience to shoppers. We heard similar complaints to the previous plans to develop the same site and nearly 8 years later the effect of that "victory" by local campaigners is clear for everyone to see - tatty shops, crowded dirty pavements and an urban centre that's clearly well past the sell by date.The revised plans for 7-42 do seem to have taken into account the feedback received - keeping the facades of some of the older buildings represents a sensible compromise that will improve the urban centre whilst also providing the commercial returns that developers need to cover the risk cost of development by a very busy railway line.

Ian Ellis ● 3640d