Sky Proves No Limit for Arcadia Centre Architects

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Bold plans for Ealing town centre include a Norman Foster skyscraper

Ealing residents have been given their first glimpse of Foster + Partners’ 40-storey skyscraper - the focal point of HKR Architects’ wider Arcadia redevelopment.

These eye catching images show part of the bold plans for the redevelopment of the Arcadia centre site in Ealing Broadway which were submitted to Ealing Council this week.

The 143-metre block of flats is taller than St Paul's Cathedral or Centre Point. But 'The Leaf' - a Norman Foster-designed gateway tower which will be the centre piece of the new development - has already come under fire.

Here are just some of the reactions on the EalingToday forum to what has already been dubbed the 'Penny Whistle' due to its distinctive shape:

"I think that this is totally out of scale to the rest of central Ealing."

"The question isn't is this building right for Ealing but when will Ealing be right for this building.
How much longer can people continue to live in old inefficient Victorian/Edwardian housing stock. You can't stay still for ever, you can't live in a time warp, we have to move on."

Developer Glenkerrin's chief executive Ray Grehan said: "Our desire is to see Ealing regain its title as 'The Queen of Suburbs'."

If completed, the development will boast 225,000 square feet of shopping space and 700 new homes. And 'The Leaf' will be more than three times the size of any building in the town centre.

20,450 square metres (220,000 square feet) of proposed commercial space would range from large to small units suitable for a mix of major stores and speciality shops, restaurants and cafes.

The proposals also include 1,168 sq m (12,567 square feet) of office space and 1,728 square metres (18,593 square feet) for leisure facilities.

The overall scheme would involve building over the railway line to open the development onto Haven Green.

But, it has been pointed out that the developer is only proposing to provide 15 per cent affordable homes. Mayor Ken Livingstone usually requires 50 per cent of new homes in large developments to be earmarked for workers on low incomes.

Details of the planning application are available to view at the Council’s Perceval House offices, Uxbridge Road, Ealing or online and in borough libraries. 

The Council is keen to hear the views of people who live in, work in or shop in the borough as the centre of Ealing is important to the whole community. The planning application will be considered by the Council in early 2008.

 

September 27, 2007