Forum Topic

Hands up those who want skyscrapers or high-rise tower blocks in Acton?

Pat Hayes (Director of Regeneration, Ealing Council) has written to me in response to my email regarding the Friary Park estate.  I appreciate the reply, although my request was to meet, fac to face.  Anyway, seems, unless I'm mistaken, that he thinks it's a very good idea to have the Catalyst proposal as it stands and, he goes on to say "I also appreciate that some people have strong views on taller buildings, though equally there are those who very much like them."  Really, Pat?  Really?Furthermore, he seems to think I'm concerned about the mess of living in a building site is uppermost in my mind. No.  It's the skyscrapers!So, let's see.....where on earth did you get the idea that "EQUALLY there are those who very much like them (tall tower blocks)"?  Hands up, Acton......do you want these towers or not?  Yes or No will do and we can then direct Pat to this thread (as if he's not watching already!)I'm a definite NO THANK YOU.

Angela White ● 4159d19 Comments

I am 100% against building towers/skyscrapers/tall buildings in a low rise area such as around the Friary Park Estate in Acton. This is not Manhattan, Central Hong Kong or Canary Wharf, it is Acton.The proposed redevelopment will only create the same number of social/affordable homes that are on the site currently. The rest will be sold off at market rates, or if Catalyst have anything to do with it, at a premium to overseas investors - My estimate being around £450k for a 1 bed in the towers. This will do nothing to alleviate the 'housing crisis' in the area. It will have a negative effect if anything when investment comes in from overseas and homes are then either left empty or rented out at rates that are needed to cover the astronomical purchase prices. This is a money driven project by Catalyst and numbers driven by Ealing Council thanks to completely unrealistic housing targets.Then there are the social impacts of such developments. If so many design improvements have been made compared to the problematic monster blocks of the 60's maybe somebody could explain why dirty nappies are regularly being discarded off balconies from the first (16 storey I believe?) block opposite North Acton station? Problems like this come from the anonymity of sub standard high rise developments such as these, and no amount of glass and steel will ever change that. We should expect and demand better quality plans from developers and local council.It's a NO from me.

Chris Petrie ● 4158d

Maybe you could hypnotise them Angela?Look into my eyes... You are feeling very sleepy... You will vote NO TOWERS!... Now wake up.Be happy, live like humans not rabbits, enjoy trees and gardens.But if they come to knock down perfectly good houses and build towers - MAN THE BARRICADES!!

Julian Smith ● 4158d

It is a no

Chris Hurley ● 4158d

"Sounds as though your concern isn't so much high-rise towers, but that Catalyst Housing might consider housing  "an average person, probably not too flush with dosh " in them. In other words, your new neighbours. I'd have thought being "not too flush with dosh"  "causes depression"  much more than the effect of being housed in a 20 storey apartment."What a ridiculous thing to say and but then of course it is posted by Fred Bray!  :-)Let me make this very clear and apologies if I haven't:  I don't care if the Queen herself lived in these flats.....money cannot change my opinion, which is a big fat NO TOWERS from me and further still, I've lived next to this estate for 25 years or more and the people there currently (whom I hope get a chance to live back there) are perfectly acceptable people and many aren't flush at all.  So Fred, there's no racism, sexism, ageism, claiss-ism, fascism here to make PC trouble with.  Oh, and you never answered the question and I'll open that one up for good measure and make it 3 questions:Do you want skyscrapers (aka very tall buildings) in Acton?Would you choose to live in a skyscraper (aka very tall buildings) in Acton?Would you want to live underneath, or have at the end of your garden a skyscraper (aka very tall building) in Acton?(says she, destroying the myth that psychotherapists are always so nice).

Angela White ● 4158d

And it's a No from me.

Teresa Byrne ● 4158d

"  No.  I am a psychotherapist and I've done a lot of research on high-rise and how it affects mental health, causes depression, disconnection from communities, etc.  So, if you're rich and can afford to be out most of the time, surrounded by luxury, probably over-looking the river, yeah, not so bad, but if you're an average person, probably not too flush with dosh, I can bet you're not so keen.  Peter....would YOU choose to live in one?  20 storeys? "                                                        -------Sounds as though your concern isn't so much high-rise towers, but that Catalyst Housing might consider housing  "an average person, probably not too flush with dosh " in them. In other words, your new neighbours. I'd have thought being "not too flush with dosh"  "causes depression"  much more than the effect of being housed in a 20 storey apartment.

Fred Bray ● 4158d

Moment child of Acton resident is told Catalyst Housing & Ealing Council plan to build skyscraper in her garden.

Angela White ● 4158d

"It seems to work in New York, Dubai, Shanghai, Hong Kong" - Peter Millman - I cannot believe you are comparing Acton to these skyscraper cities - do you understand the concept of a 220 foot tower block in the middle of residential Acton? Never mind Peter, it 'seems to work' in New York - maybe Acton could twin itself with New York?'Tall Buildings' have no place in residential areas - it is beyond reason to build 10, 14, & 20 storey buildings in a residential area - in the city?; YES, next to family gardens?; NO.Catalyst Housing have pound signs in their eyes because the Friary Park Estate is directly opposite the (forthcoming) Crossrail station (Acton Mainline) so they plan to flatten a perfectly good housing estate, displacing an entire community in the process and replace it with 'Tall Buildings' - Note; 'Tall Buildings' is the PC way of saying 'Skyscrapers'. Can I just remind EVERYONE that if you all stay silent on this important issue, in a few years time, Acton & West London will resemble New York.  At least Peter will be happy I suppose.Read what Boris Johnson says: http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/boris-johnson-wants-no-high-9047967

ken white ● 4158d

If it was just the planning department it wouldn't be so bad. The political masters are in on it too. Oh, and i vote NO TOWERS!

Julian Smith ● 4158d

Yes Peter Savick, only these Planners are not funny at all!  BTW, tall buildings.....you can call them what you want, Peter Millman, but a 20 storey building is a skyscraper, last time I looked in the dictionary (not Wikipedia, of course, although many people get confused with the two!)Skyscraper....."a very tall building of many storeys."

Angela White ● 4158d

Tell me Peter, what sort of home do you live in? "Rabbit hutches" are unfit for humans... Even Boris seems to be recognising that now - does it count as an "S" turn when you change your mind twice?

Julian Smith ● 4158d

'FAWLTY TOWERS' starring Ealing planning department.

Peter Savick ● 4158d

http://policyexchange.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/category/item/knock-down-high-rise-estates-and-tower-blocks

Peter Savick ● 4158d

Peter, people have a negative view of high-rise because no-one really wants to live in them unless you're loaded, my friend! Would you REALLY want to live there, no disposable cash to speak of, disconnected from your community?  No.  I am a psychotherapist and I've done a lot of research on high-rise and how it affects mental health, causes depression, disconnection from communities, etc.  So, if you're rich and can afford to be out most of the time, surrounded by luxury, probably over-looking the river, yeah, not so bad, but if you're an average person, probably not too flush with dosh, I can bet you're not so keen.  Peter....would YOU choose to live in one?  20 storeys?  You Labour by any chance?  Seems to me the Labour people are all for this complex.  Just an observation.

Angela White ● 4158d

I am with you on this. Just look over the other side of the A40. The residents of the estate deserve better from Catalyst. There are so many studies denigrating high rise living. What makes these Catalyst think that this is viable. The answer I think is MONEY.

Jan Gayle-Farlow ● 4159d

I'm in favour of tall buildings. They're the only alternative to urban sprawl. The council tower blocks of the past have a deservedly bad reputation, but modern tall buildings, well designed and, crucially, well managed, are part of the answer to London's housing shortage  It seems to work in New York, Dubai, Shanghai, Hong Kong.  Part of the problem is that people in this country have a negative view of high-rise living because of the mistakes made in the 60s. High rise blocks now are a very different proposition.Space in London is limited. The only way is up.

Peter Millman ● 4159d

We're all concerned about them - being shipped out to Slough and probably not coming back.  So, that's a no then, Chris?  It's a quantitive survey - Catalyst style!  ;-)

Angela White ● 4159d

I don't like tower blocks at all but I am more concerned about those people already living on the estate in social housing and whether/where they are going to be housed.

Chris Hurley ● 4159d

A quick guide or reminder on this issue, for those who don't know.....Catalyst Housing are proposing to knock down 224 homes on the Friary Park estate and replace them with  around 650 flats, which includes a 20 storey tower, 2 x 14, 2 x 10, 8 and 6 storey towers dotted around it.  That's not to mention grabbing our public green as their own so they can cram as many people and flats onto this estate without having to provide their own green space, or the fact they want to drive a road through the estate, thus creating a rat-run, or blocking off one of the roads around the area so they can grab that green.  Clear, I hope.

Angela White ● 4159d