SEC believes
that the following seven elements need to be considered and included in
plans for the redevelopment of the town centre to ensure it is diverse in terms
of its mix and distribution of uses:
Built Environment
·
Buildings to
be no more than 2 to 8 storeys high, depending on the site location.
- The
existing townscape, historic character, key views and landmark elements to
be protected.
- All
new building to be attractively designed and of a scale that complements
Ealing’s ‘look’.
.
Transport and Movement
- Rationalisation
of the road network – particularly north to south.
- Improved travel routes for pedestrians,
cyclists and motor vehicles
- A fully integrated public transport
interchange at Ealing Broadway station.
- Better
access to public car parking to reduce town centre traffic.
Arts, Culture, Entertainment and
Leisure
- A
high quality, flexible multi purpose arts, leisure and conference centre.
- A
professional Management Board to run programmes to attract residents from
in and outside the borough. A cinema complex showing general release and
art house films.
- Indoor sports
facilities.
Retail
- Reinvention
of Ealing as a town rather than a metropolitan centre, to ensure that its
shopping facilities meet the needs of its local catchment area.
- Shopping
which is complementary not competitive to Westfield, with a mix of small independent traders in
shops and permanent indoor/outdoor market stalls.
- A
variety of units with sufficient small to medium shop sizes to keep overheads
to a minimum.
Commercial
- New office
space to exploit improved transport access in the centre
- Selected
refurbishment of older blocks with some changes to residential use
- Provision for local small and
medium-sized start-up businesses and professionals.
- New quality or “boutique” hotel
development linked to the arts and conference facilities.
Residential
- Ealing centre
to be mainly for civic, cultural and leisure facilities rather than
residential.
- Medium
density residential only where adequate infrastructure can be provided.
- New homes to
be planned to meet the emerging needs of the existing local community.
Community
- Adequate
health services, education and public open space to allow for any increase
in housing.
- A centrally
sited police station with easy access 24 hours a day.
- The
Town Hall to return to being the centre of civic community/arts
activities.