Forum Topic

West Ealing Tower Blocks and A2Dominion

As far as I can see the proposal in West Ealing being made by A2Dominion is not just a property development but a fundamental change in the nature of the area around the proposed scheme. It is primarily residential and hundreds of homes will be in the shadow of this huge building.I don't live in the area but I do feel for the residents there as there seems little prospect of any push back on this scheme from Ealing Council given how close their relationship with A2Dominion is.Although this is not a private company it is one that generates a huge amount of money for the people who work for it. According to the information I could find its chief executive was paid over £250,000 in 2015/6. The figures in the article on this site about the number of houses it is building in the borough could be taken as an indication of what a good job it is doing helping the Council deal with the housing shortage. On the other hand the dependency of the Council on this group does mean more reassurance is needed over how residents' interests will be protected. The low key way the consultation into the project has been started and the short time to respond doesn't indicate that the views of people living in the area are ranked with any degree of importance.

Mark Evans ● 2357d52 Comments

Surely the answer is to cut the tax rate for the high earners so that they can keep and increase their wealth, and to source cheap labour from other countries - only where will they live?And so many of these towers should probably be redesigned to Scottish Building Regulations rather than our out of date ones.  There is a paragraph here on how housing should be better designed to suit the climate situation - the RIBA has now declared a climate emergency.  We don't want to have to keep demolishing buildings when cement causes so much air pollution:https://www.futurebuild.co.uk/industry-news/riba-declares-climate-emergency

Philippa Bond ● 2318d

Of coursenot, I'm sure every resident in each one of the thousands of backyard sheds in Southall is on the Electoral Roll.If not, LBE would be straight on the case and do something about it.  ;-)

Rosco White ● 2323d

>>PC wrote>> Ealing Borough "lost" approx. 7,000 - second highest of all the London Boroughs.>>TH replies>> Presumably those stats are based around electoral roll figures. Surely nobody would dare live in the borough and not register on the electoral roll . . LOL . . .?

Tony Heath ● 2323d

I was reading in today's Evening Standard that, for the second year running, there has been a net outflow of approximately 100,000 people from London. In the second of those years Ealing Borough "lost" approx. 7,000 - second highest of all the London Boroughs.These sort of numbers, coupled with the uncertainties of Brexit, would make most developers of speculative secondary residential accommodation somewhat nervous.  One failed scheme can send a company under.But is an enterprise like A2Dominion subject to the normal financial constraints of Ltd or PLC company or are they ultimately underwritten by public money - Local or Central Government?

Philip Coe ● 2323d

Yes, but in the meantime they can do an awful lot (more) damage.(I have no answers I'm afraid.  I wish I did.)TC - Founder Member of the Guy Fawkes Party

Tony Colliver ● 2323d

Every "Dynasty" comes to a sticky end sooner or later.

Rosco White ● 2329d

Sadly, you are correct.While the vested interests of certain members and their 'band of brothers' in certain areas of the borough pervade then the general apathy will have no effect whatsoever on the Cabal.

N V Brooks ● 2331d

No argument there, we're stuffed then.Unfortunately, given the complete apathy of the majority of Ealing/Acton denizens, business will continue uninterrupted and as usual at The Ealing Kremlin for the foreseeable future.

Rosco White ● 2331d

Conservative Central office has been haemorrhaging funds for the last few years and probably couldn't fund anything.It really needs the 'man in the street' to rise up and support the opposition else nothing will change and the problems will perpetuate.

N V Brooks ● 2331d

I have to accept what you say Mr Brooks, and I really do hope that is the case. However, it is surely agreed that the Lib-Dems & the Conservatives have an appalling, non-existent "PR" machine. They have zero "Profile" in Ealing/Acton, no-one knows anything nor has a clue about what they're actually DOING. Oh, except for some inexplicable reason the regular front page reporting of Gary Malcolm's latest charity climb etc.If the Conservatives really want to regain Ealing surely they have "resources" at CON HQ they can call upon for support? An HQ funded full investigation of LBE shenanigans would produce spectacular results for use in an election I'd have thought? 

Rosco White ● 2331d

Hardly drinking Pimm's and the local LibDem and Tory councillors are working ruddy hard (I know a number of them) to try and 'rein in' the worst excesses.Difficult though when there are 4 LibDems, 8 Tories and 57 in the Labour Cabal. Basically, they can get away with everything.

N V Brooks ● 2331d

SERIOUS questions need to be asked and deep investigations need to be made about all these Towers continually going up, and just who in various positions within LBE are involved with A2Dominion et al. They exert no influence my backside. We are not fools.And just where's our Local "Opposition" supporting us in trying to stop all this? Oh, it's summer, they're busy drinking Pimms.

Rosco White ● 2331d

You make an important point but isn't the problem here the green belt? Other large cities have managed to grow and grow because large dormitory towns have developed around them with good transport links. London can't do this to the same extent so most of our workforce has to live quite centrally. A market only solution in which population was reduced by not providing any subsidised housing would end up creating problems for the local economy because there wouldn't be anybody to do low paid work.This is not to say that the answer to the problem is to build massive skyscrapers in West Ealing.

Andy Jones ● 2332d

I appreciate that the London Local Authorities are under pressure to provide more housing but, given that London is the economic powerhouse of the UK, I suspect that demand is insatiable and new housing will only alleviate homelessness/waiting lists for a short while. A bit like adding more lanes to the M25 to cut congestion.  Perhaps works in the short trerm but then attraction and demand grows and congestion returns.Whilst everyone in the UK (and Europe?) has a legal right to live in London that does not mean they all can, or will, be housed.Indeed I have a right to live in Mayfair and would love to move there from Ealing but I can't afford either outright purchase or the rent and probably would not qualify for social housing.  So much for my "rights"?So why not put a cap on the upper population of London and stop this current wave of high rise residentail blocks shoe-horned into small site suburban areas?Or are we aiming to be a mega-city like Beijing (21M)?

Philip Coe ● 2333d

If you can't 'moan' on sites like this (or indeed any such forum) then what point is there in establishing them in the first place? What you perceive as 'moaning' others might instead find suitably motivating...enough in fact to become, and as you rightly advocate, more proactive......As my old uncle Albert used to claim "There's nowt wrong with a good moan!" (but then, he was a notoriously miserable old sod anyway!)

Bob Rosamond ● 2335d

Everyone should join Ealing Matters!

Simon Hayes ● 2335d

It is all very well moaning on this site, it won't change anything. What is required is direct action by all not just a few.

Libby Kemp ● 2335d

Is it my imagination or are those who run Ealing Council utterly determined to systematically destroy the heart and soul of a town once renowned for its architectural style and elegance. What kind of collective warped mentality afflicts Ealing Council that they deem a series of hideously unsuitable glass and steel monstrosities to ultimately blight its skyline under the utterly misleading and pathetic guise of 'affordable homes'?If this is Ealing council's shared vision and dream of how a rejuvenated town should look, then I would hate to know what visions their nightmares are comprised of (aside from being chased down by an angry mob of residents with pitchforks and torches that is)!As an ex-pat of the delightful and historically rich town of St. Albans, whose citizens WOULD run the council out of office if they initiated similar plans, I too feel deeply sorry for the good folk of Ealing and can only hope that the Council either comes to its collective sense...or a higher authority takes the bull by the horns and instigates a much needed purge of those insane enough to approve such continued destruction of the towns heart, soul and character!

Bob Rosamond ● 2336d

Or someone mailed Lord Gnome a link and a digest of the issues :wink:

N V Brooks ● 2336d

I have lived happily in Ealing for 30 years since returning to UK from Africa with my very young children. Over the last 6 years of planning applications and major developments on either side of my house, I have become aware of the incompetence and naked mendacity and malice of the Council under the stewardship of Julian Bell. If I thought things were bad in Africa in terms of greed and self-interest, I am appalled at how much worse it is here, if less evident on the surface. I could write a small book about the hostile (to residents) culture within council departments, the bullying of employees and the consequently high turnover of staff, and the “influences” that are brought to bear on planning decisions. After all these years, I am now considering returning home to Scotland. I feel desperately sorry for Ealing and all the good people living here.

Judith Jaafar ● 2336d

Incredible that two vastly oversized developments are planned practically next to each other. Just like many others I fear that there is not the infrastructure to support even one of these developments. Given that they propose so much affordable housing the infrastructure concern is even more pressing because these are residents who will definitely be reliant on state services for health and education. In addition the strain on the new Crossrail service will be considerable - will anyone be able to access the service efficiently at West Ealing?I replied to the consultation/feedback document in May but wonder whether they will take any notice at all of local concerns, they seem pretty assured that their plans will not be opposed at council level. The other worrying thing was that one of the developments was described as 'car free' ie no parking spaces? But that doesn't mean that people will not own cars and where will they park them?

M Powes ● 2336d

Looks like someone from Private Eye reads this forum.

Andy Jones ● 2336d

These huge buildings will appear anywhere in the borough the council can find. Piece in Private Eye today highlights the link between A2Dominion and cllrs Bell and Mahfouz.

Simon Hayes ● 2337d

Received a leaflet this morning for a public exhibition for a new proposed 26 storey residential building on the North-West corner of the same railway bridge.  Developer Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing. Web site www.55west.co.uk Has W13 been earmarked as W5's poor neighbour and a dumping ground for these monstrosities?

Philip Coe ● 2337d

Don't rush Tony, it's not out until tomorrow.Waiting for the postman (I have had a subscription to 'The Eye' for years).

N V Brooks ● 2338d

I don't know if Martin did engage with Private Eye or not, but a little birdy tells me that there is juice aplenty re Ealing in the Rotten Boroughs column this week.In fact, I'm just off to pick up a copy and see for myself now.

Tony Colliver ● 2338d

Martin, this deserves a wider platform than a local website.Perhaps you might like to engage with the good people at Private Eye who, if they pick it up, will virtually guarantee national coverage.

N V Brooks ● 2342d

Thank you AndyI knew A2Dominion are the main supplier of housing in Ealing as like Catalyst Housing Group they are members of G15 and since 2012 I have taken a particular interest in people who used to work in local government and are now working directly for these Community Asset Owners or as private consultants. I take a particular interest in Catalyst as they are still trying to make me homeless so I take this seriously. A former Camden Housing Officer Rod Cahill has recently retired on a £200,000 a year pension and that is just 1 of his 24 pensions so the move from local government to the private sector is highly profitable.Who do you think ensures Ealing Labour Councillors are obliged to vote on planning issues according to planning law not on personal feeling? Please don't suggest Julian Bell or Yvonne Johnston have anything but their own self-interest as their main concerns. I have known them for 35 years. Obviously all dvelopers have benefited from their not taking SIL or Section 106 charges. I know the police take no interest in their meetings with Paul Najsarek, Tony Clements, Lucy Taylor, Mark Wiltshire, Alan Baldwin, Adenike Tilleray, Edward Axe CIO or even Kieran Reid the Director Strategy and Engagement. I have asked and the fact that these senior managers were all apointed by Julian Bell and Yvonne Johnston is interesting but certainly not criminal. Most people do not realise that as well as making treason legal and producing the dossier that lead to the invasion of Iraq Labour changed domestic security services so that no one looks at the multi-layered connections of Labour councillors and their managers. Millions of pounds are discussed without any monitoring because the Labour Party destroyed the Nation Audit Office.I think local journalists like Ged Cann are doing a good job but the demographics of Ealing has changed so much recently that most people living here now expect a corrupt, racist government. They are unaware over £37 million was paid to private landlords from Ealing Council last year for temporary accommodation and less intestered in Labour Councillors like Yvonne Johnston arranging loans for her friends and business partners. Where many Ealing residents come from that is what local politicans do. Fortunately groups like Transparency International did take note of the £100 million loans Yvonne Johnston arranged Catalyst when no bank would touch them. Technically it isn't profit as A2Dominion Directors call it Surplus. Its a tax avoidance not evasion thing. Its the greed of all those involved that is transparent.

Martin Cain ● 2342d

>>Andy Jones writes>> Can't accept that. There is a big difference between baseless innuendo and stating a fact.>>TH replies>> I must remind you, this is the Ealing Forum. What you mean is . . . There is a big difference between baseless innuendo and stating a fact.  FACT.

Tony Heath ● 2351d

"the lines are a bit blurred" is a good enough euphemism for moi!  ;-)A bit?!!!!  :-)))))))

Rosco White ● 2351d

Can't accept that. There is a big difference between baseless innuendo and stating a fact.

Andy Jones ● 2351d

>>Andy Jones wrote >>  This nudge-nudge wink-wink version of commenting is a bit juvenile. . . . . . . .technically it isn't profit but there isn't a great deal of transparency where it ends up.>>TH replies>> Isn't your post contradicting itself?

Tony Heath ● 2351d

This nudge-nudge wink-wink version of commenting on local politics is a bit juvenile. Councillors are obliged to vote on planning issues according to planning law not on personal feeling. It is rarely a good idea for them to vote against officer recommendation and that is where the fault line seems to be here. A2Dominion are the main supplier of housing in the borough and staffed by a lot of people who used to work in local government so the lines are a bit blurred. As a social enterprise the original conception of organisations like these should have been the building of low cost, low margin affordable housing with a market component cross subsidising the rest. What appears to be happening in West Ealing is a project that will generate a lot of extra cash - technically it isn't profit but there isn't a great deal of transparency about where it ends up.

Andy Jones ● 2351d

Ha Ha, well we all know how Labour vote at Planning Committee don't we! Of course, every Labour Member on the Planning Committee is above reproach, an independent person voting with integrity,  according to their views and uninfluenced by The Party in any way.Know wot I mean?!!  ;-)

Rosco White ● 2352d

Unfortunately I think we are all too aware of the machinations at The Ealing Kremlin, and if you are a "Person Of Influence" and register your interest and abstain from any relevant voting, you still have, errrr, "influence."    Know wot I mean?      ;-)

Rosco White ● 2352d

The rumour is that one of the retail units has been purchased by somebody that is attempting to hold the developers to ransom on the price having previously purchased one of the units precisely to this end.This info comes from one of the people hosting the consultation.This same person also advised when questioned that the Majestic and Halfords parcels of land had been secured as a result of making the current private owners offers that they could not refuse.  Contracts have been exchanged but completion is subject to planning permission being given.

Tony Colliver ● 2352d

Have the people concerned registered their interests and will not vote on these matters?

Graham Weeks ● 2352d

I am bumping this because it is very, VERY IMPORTANT.The good denizens of Ealing & Acton all need to be aware of any, errrr,  "conflicts of interest" within LBE. To put it mildly.  :-)

Rosco White ● 2352d

Herewith copied across, in all its glory:-Topic: The Can of Worms that is A2Dominion Posted by: Anthony Waller  Date/Time: 11/02/15 So the wall of silence over Cllr. Bell is more than coincidence?  Cllr Mahfouz works for them as well. Just who else in LBE and LBH work for this tarnished Housing Association.This Housing Association which has deregistered as a Charity is a disgrace.Huge salary hikes for it's directors and executives, appalling conditions and treatment of tenants and managed tenancies, poor quality fault ridden older housing stock, poor quality new build housing stock, employment for the politically involved and favours for affilliated 'pals'Management that has persistently evaded questions from MPs and resisted Grant Shapps suggestion that they ought to be open to FoI questions as they are quaffing £millions in taxpayers subsidies and grants.It's not just Ealing Councillors, Hounslow seems to have several cosy relationships as well.Hillingdon though have wised up to A2D and are investigating some of their activities.The Car Parking fiddle comes as no surprise as the 'leaning on' of LBE Highways staff over footway and road issues over A2D new building as well as the waving through of planning permissions  came from people with vested interests has been rumoured for quite a while.From all the stories leaking out about A2D it's apparent that this organisation is clearly corrupt and is the corruptor, with far too many politicians in their grubby palms.A complete and open investigation is needed and any councillor associated fiscally or otherwise needs to be suspended and fully investigated.

Rosco White ● 2354d

"The Can of Worms that is A2Dominion"- posted on this forum by Anthony Waller on 11 February 2015.

Kevin Purell ● 2354d

In the fullness of time, MUCH will be revealed about the various associations between the "Not for Profit" housing organisations, the "For Profit" ones, and various Ealing Councillors & Officers.  :-)

Rosco White ● 2354d

This isn’t being built with residents in mind, it’s just another way for A2Dominion to make a quick buck out of Ealing, and massage the Bell ego by adding to the tally in its unrealistic target of home building.

Simon Hayes ● 2355d

Does anyone really aspire to live in this type of tower block accommodation?  Perhaps such blocks with roof terraces on the banks of the Thames but not adjacent to the main railway line to the West Country.I appreciate that if you are currently homeless/living with parents/living in sub-standard accommodation etc etc, it would be welcome but as a long term goal?

Philip Coe ● 2355d

And various tongues are lodged in various other cheeks regarding the godawful developments at North Acton, and coming to Ealing soon!;-)

Rosco White ● 2355d

My tongue was very firmly in my cheek while posting.

N V Brooks ● 2356d

>>NVB ponders>> I wonder which 'housing association' provides the social property that 'Leader Bell' occupies?Answer: A2Dominion.  For those who need reminding>> https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2873049/Labour-chief-social-housing-owns-1m-home-round-corner-Councillor-branded-hypocrite-buying-property-staying-housing-association-tennant.html

Tony Heath ● 2356d

I wonder which 'housing association' provides the social property that 'Leader Bell' occupies.

N V Brooks ● 2356d

For those who are unaware, draw your own conclusions:-Bassam Mahfouz, Employment & Enterprise Manager, A2Dominion GroupandBassam Mahfouz, Ealing Cabinet Member Finance & Leisure, LBECommittees:-Boundaries Panel               Member 22 May 2018Cabinet                               Member  04 April 2013Chief Officers Appointments Panel Member 11 June 2014Council and Trade Union Joint Committee Member 22 May 2018Ealing Business Partnership         Member 22 May 2018Readers of this Forum may wish to look further into various other Labour Party Members within our illustrious Council.;-)

Rosco White ● 2356d

A 25 storey block is absolutely ridiculous in this location. This is 3 times the height of the newish "Waitrose" residential block the other side of the road.  I guess they are expecting to make a concession during the planning process to reduce this to "only" 20 or so.Surprising that the little single storey retail units (presumably former railways out buildings) on the rise to the bridge are still shown as standing and  not included in the scheme.

Philip Coe ● 2356d

Registered Social Landlords like A2Dominion have specific duties of care to their residents which is why their directors get such massive tax breaks and Government grants. However over the last 10 years they have spent heavily on consultants who do not think about people, never mind schools or GPs. Their only interest is cash. I found out from JP Morgan directly what their involvement was with Catalyst Housing Group, not as a Housing Association but as a community asset holder. Julian Bell might let you know the set up. Unfortunately he just ignores my questions.

Martin Cain ● 2356d

This is exactly the same money making scheme as we had here in Acton when Catalyst Housing Group tried to demolish 230 family homes to build a 29 storey block of 630 flats for private sale to foreign investors.It was easy enough for me to stop Rod Cahill and Richard Brown as their plan was illegal, These well known tax avoiders failed to have any consultation with local residents.The real issue here is that Labour Leader Julian Bell while owning a mansion on Noel Road lives in a A2Dominion flat and is a well know recipient of money from them. The problem is that Julian Bell, Yvonne Johnston nor indeed any Labour councillor to my knowledge declares their financial involvement with developers, serious matter as the Marxists running Ealing do not tax developers.In 2014 all Bell could do was lie about his friend Richard Brown having conducted a survey and told him the residents of the Friary Park estate had asked for our homes to be demolished. I sent the survey Catalyst conducted to the Market Research Society which condemned its methodology and ethics.I have no idea who  tom.cooper@instinctif.com is. Never heard of instincif and don't Google. I have completed the survey https://www.hastingsroadwestealing.co.uk/have-your-say and will write opposing this plan.Please note Tom Cooper does say" we will be unable to reflect your views as part of the consultation." So obviously this project is illegal as they are not conducting a meaningful survey.Anyway it is open until 3 June 2019.By the way can someone please explain why Ealing Council does not tax developers?

Martin Cain ● 2356d

Agreed. I too do not live in the immediate area, being just off Pitshanger Lane, but I certainly use West Ealing a lot. Yes, the existing residents will be living in the shadow of this monolith. Not only that but, as per usual, no infrastructure will be there to support these plans- GPs, schools, etc.

Bettina Margaret Thwaite ● 2357d