SEC is a voluntary alliance of 26 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.

20th January 2009 – SEC Launches Its Vision for Ealing 

On the 20th January in Ealing Town Hall, Save Ealing's Centre will launch its Vision of what Ealing town centre could look like - and needs to look like - if it is to serve the community well in future years.  SEC's VISION read it here!

This Vision has been prepared with contributions from local residents who have professional qualifications in areas such as architecture, town planning, transport and design. 

SEC’s ideas for a new-look Ealing town centre include an arts and conference centre, a complex for community use based on a refurbished Town Hall, an integrated bus/tube/rail/taxi interchange over the railway tracks at Ealing Broadway station, a new police station, and a hotel and visitor centre.  All the developments would be on a scale with, and in a style sympathetic to, the traditional architecture which gives Ealing its special character.  Brick and stone would predominate, in stark contrast to the concrete-and-glass “anytown, anywhere” approach of so many developers.  Significantly, SEC does not propose any increase in the amount of retail space, while also suggesting that much of the existing shopping area should be rebuilt to modern standards.

 

  

SEC's Vision
When SEC formed to oppose the Glenkerrin 'Leaf' / Arcadia development, it became obviously apparent that what Ealing Council did not have in place was an over-arching vision for Ealing Town Centre. Without a masterplan, developers can come in to our town centre and propose whatever they like. They rely on the general public's apathy to respond to Planning Applications to help their plans get passed.
 
Ealing town centre is surrounded by lots of green open space and attractive tree lined residential streets. Church spires pepper the skyline. The town centre itself is characterised by a landscape of Victorian and Edwardian low rise, brick buildings and the average building height ranges between 3-4 storeys. 

SEC thinks these positive aspects of Ealing must be retained and new developments should complement and add value to what is already in place.

Ealing is also a transport hub with a mainline and underground station and a bus termination point.

SEC thinks that with the coming of Crossrail, the existing transport interchange must be substantially improved . The different transport modes must become more integrated with easy access to all and there is a huge requirement for a proper bus station.

Ealing has community facilities that attract people to the town centre ie the parks, Questors theatre, comedy clubs, cinema and pubs.

SEC thinks better use of the existing facilities combined with a new auditorium for arts & leisure centre would bring a lot more life back to our town centre.

Ealing has a lot to offer and with some joined up thinking it could be a great town centre again. SEC wants the Ealing Council to formalise a masterplan for the redevelopment of Ealing Town Centre that considers all Ealing's positive features - so that people come to live, work, visit and stay here.  

 SEC in 2008

The community needs to understand exactly how much of the centre of Ealing will be redeveloped over the next few years. What is at stake is far greater than just the Arcadia Centre and Dickens Yard sites and SEC intends to keep the public informed.

The October 2008 'About Ealing' magazine says there are 29 sites in Ealing due for redevelopment - 6 of these are in the town centre!   They are Dickens Yard, Arcadia Centre,  Ealing Broadway Station, Cinema Site (opposite the Town Hall), Lamerton's Site(triangle of land between Bond Street and High Street) and Ealing Broadway Centre.

Save Ealing's Centre (SEC) is looking at these six central sites as a whole, as one "opportunity" to revitalise the town centre and we believe that:
  • we need a comprehensive plan for what will replace the current use of each site and the buildings on them and for what use and buildings ought to be retained
  • everyone in the community should have the opportunity to provide input to this plan
  • Ealing Council's approach "let market forces dictate" will not serve the community well

SEC believes that the following seven elements need to be considered and included in plans for the redevelopment of the town centre:

  • Transport; Vehicle, Pedestrian and Cycle Routes; Parking (eg a proper public transport interchange at Ealing Broadway station, with provision for off-road bus stands and drop-off points and with easy travel routes for pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles)
  • Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Leisure (eg a range of facilities over a number of sites)
  •  Built Environment (eg buildings to be no more than 2 to 8 storeys high depending on the site location to maintain the character of the local area and avoid dominating the views)
  • Retail (eg quality markets, more independent shops, and possibly one more "anchor" store to serve local shopping needs and to complement not compete with Westfield)
  • Residential (eg ensuring that the town centre is not turned into a housing estate and any new housing is sustainable and of the right quantity and quality and serves the right people)
  •  Commercial (eg provision for local small and medium-sized enterprises but no large office blocks in the town centre)
  • Community Infrastructure (eg a permanent police station in the town centre, conference and sports facilities, health and play facilities to support the growing population)

We have set the context for the redevelopment of the town centre by considering these seven components in relation to the six sites.   We want to present a range of options and alternative scenarios for these sites which will meet the needs of the community.  We need your input.

 

What could be changed or introduced in Ealing that will transform the town centre into a dynamic, interesting location that will attract families and the young and old to spend time and money there?  And, if given the opportunity where would you locate these changes? What do you value about Ealing? What would you keep and what could you do without? SEC INVITES YOU TO HAVE YOUR SAY!


 Still NO Overarching Masterplan for Ealing Town Centre sites       Until Ealing Council puts together an integrated development plan, that combines residential, retail, transport, infrastructure and community facilities, Ealing Town Centre will continue to decline and remain under seige from property developers that propose massive residential estates that are labelled 'regeneration' and 'retail'.

Save Ealing's Centre (SEC) urges Ealing Council to formalise an integrated development plan with policies that maintain the uniqueness and established spacial characteristics, scale, character and identity of Ealing Town Centre. The Council's responsibility is to create an environment that meets all stakeholders needs.

 Ealing derves better! 

SEC's formation
Save Ealing's Centre (SEC) is a voluntary alliance of 26 Ealing residents' and community groups stretching from Hanwell to Acton. The SEC alliance, formed in November 2007, was established to promote the good planning of Ealing Town Centre and its development as the focal point of the Ealing residential community.
 
The initial impetus that caused the formation of SEC was to campaign against Ealing Council accepting the September 2007 Glenkerrin 'Leaf' / Arcadia Planning Application AND more recently we have campaigned against a similar sized development on Dickens Yard.

Other projects SEC is currently involved with include evaluating the Tibbalds Report, a report commissioned by Ealing Council to provide guidance on how Ealing and West Ealing town centres should develop, and, providing input to Crossrail with regard to improving the transport interchange at Ealing Broadway.