SEC is a voluntary alliance of 25 residents' and community groups from Hanwell to Acton. SEC seeks good planning for Ealing Town Centre that will reestablish it as the focal point for Ealing borough's residents. Contact Us to help, for info, to make a donation.

Glenkerrin's 2007 Application for 'Leaf'/Arcadia was withdrawn

The Glenkerrin application for the Arcadia site (The "Leaf") for 6 high rise towers with 704 flats was withdrawn in early 2008 due to many letters of objection from the local community and public criticism from English Heritage, the Government's architectural advisors CABE, the GLA and the then Mayor, Ken Livingstone.

It has been publicly announced in the local papers that Glenkerrin will return with a revised plan for the Arcadia site in September 2008. Read the latest news on Glenkerrin's Plans for the Arcadia site Glenkerrin Arcadia Site 2008.

In the meantime, a Planning Application for the re-development of Dickens Yard is out for public consultation until 27th June 2008. This is for a similar high rise development of 7 towers and 698 flats right in the town centre. If this plan is accepted, Glenkerrin will use it as a measuring stick as to what they might get away with next. 

The Dickens Yard public consultation period ended on 27th June 2008 BUT the Authority must consider all comments, if it can, right up until the they take their decision in September. Please write and together we can make it clear to Ealing Council that we want ‘NO HIGH RISE DEVELOPMENTS’ in our town centre at  HOW TO OBJECT, 

This information that follows below and the sub-pages of this menu remind you of the dire plans put forward by Glenkerrin in 2007. These have been temporarily withdrawn and a revision is due in September 2008.

ARCHIVE Information from 2007 follows:


Our centre needs regeneration. But.... thousands of residents say these proposals are wrong.
Save Ealing’s Centre (SEC) has been formed by over 20 local residents’ and community groups to work together to get the best for Ealing. This website has been designed to explain why you should be concerned and to let you know what should be done.



The Impact

WE SAY this is town cramming, not town planning. It is gross over-development, and it includes:

  •  one of the highest towers in London (40 storeys) plus 3 more tall buildings
  • a block 50% taller than Centre Point in London, and higher than the Wembley Stadium arch
  • 704 mostly high-cost apartments
  • the demolition of the present Arcadia car park, with new parking for only half the residents and  none for shoppers
  • huge shadows on Haven Green
  • no plans to link with Crossrail or for a much-needed bus station
  • ...and little or no improvement in shopping or leisure facilities.



Why?

EALING’S SHOPPING CENTRE badly needs regeneration. It must have a major uplift if it is to compete in the future.
Other proposals are already in place to begin piecemeal redevelopment, including the large site behind the Town Hall (Dickens Yard).

Who?

IRISH DEVELOPER Glenkerrin has submitted plans to Ealing Council’s Planning Department for an estimated £½ billion development in Ealing Broadway.
With a background in residential property development, Glenkerrin has never taken on a development on this scale in England before.



Where?

THE SITE includes most of the land and buildings between Springbridge Road and Ealing Broadway Station including the Arcadia Centre and its car park.
Building would go right over the railway line, up to the edge of Haven Green.

When?

BUILDING WORK would start in 2009/10 if planning permission is given, and is planned to finish in the year 2015. The Council is expected to consider the plans early next year, after all representations have been made.
 
Put any objections in writing to Ealing Council
and lobby your local councillor 
- see links below on how to object.

How will the proposals affect Ealing?



Chronic, not iconic

The scale and design of the whole site are not in keeping with the rest of Ealing and will dwarf its historic and more traditional surroundings.
These towers would be better suited to a city centre than to a suburb and are not appropriate for our environment and the conservation areas which surround them.

No transport plan

There are no improvements for public transport, although this was a requirement in Ealing Council’s planning brief.
Public transport development plans for Ealing, including Crossrail, are being finalised, but have been ignored by Glenkerrin.
We expect this development will gridlock the Town Centre. The Council must not allow this piecemeal approach.



Under-doctored

Ealing’s healthcare provision is already below the national average. The only GP’s surgery in the area is already overloaded. There is no plan for new resources.
Combined with Dickens Yard, there will be well over 2,000 extra patients - equal to a practice of two doctors - and this will add even greater strain on our overstretched facilities.

No school places

The development will also put pressure on local schools. The two new housing sites (Arcadia and Dickens Yard) will put at least 200 more school age children into the town centre.
There are no local state secondary schools in the catchment area for the centre, and the nearby primary schools could not absorb the extra numbers.



What you should do next

If you would like to find out more about this major planning application, then: 

*  SEC has written detailed reports on key aspects of the plans. These, together with the CABE report, are available on this website

*  Glenkerrin’s plans are available to read in hard copy at the Council Offices and local Libraries. Alternatively, you can access them on-line (click link) at: www.tinyurl.com/2fex64

SEC wants Ealing Council to reject these plans and then engage with Glenkerrin and the Community to ensure that the development delivers more for the local community, particularly in relation to transport and a more balanced retail/residential mix.

If you agree with us - how to object

* Please write to Ealing Council Planning Department setting out your concerns via (click link)www.tinyurl.com/2av9ky . It's easy and online now.

* Alternatively use our template letter, simply click download template letter 1 or template letter 2 print, complete the letter, sign and send to the Town Hall.

* You can also write to your Ward Councillors whose role is to represent you. Their contact details are on the Council’s web site at (click link): www.tinyurl.com/27jyko or just write to them at The Town Hall. 

See also 13 Reasons to Object webpage - simply click on the navigation on the left of this page.

New plans need to be drawn up that deliver a more balanced mix of retail and residential properties on the site, with more thought given to transport problems and with a design more sympathetic to the character of Ealing.

Download a printable version of this document - click here - which is suitable for emailing to other interested groups of people.
Help spread the word.

Ealing deserves better!

Save Ealing’s Centre is an entirely voluntary alliance of local communities from West Ealing to Acton. If you would like to help us, register for further information or make a donation to our costs, please follow the links on the left of this page.