Forum Topic

Homebase site. Have you looked at the development plans?

Starting a new thread. Written by someone who lives near the site and was able to attend the exhibition.Notes from visit to Barratt London exhibition of proposals for Homebase site at East Acton                      16 October 2017Barratt London is buying the Homebase site at Savoy Circus and a house at 2 East Acton Lane; Homebase vacates the site when the lease expires in June 2018. The aim is to start building at the start of 2019, which will last two years. A public exhibition was held on 14 and 16 Oct at Shepherds Bush Cricket Club in Bromyard Avenue.The architects are TP Bennett, who have worked on Fulham Riverside and are working on the Filmworks cinema site in Ealing. The Homebase site is at the boundary of Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham Councils, and LB Ealing is associated on the planning. Plans are at an early stage but the proposal is for 350 units of 1, 2 or 3-bedroom flats, with 35% of them affordable housing, approx. 120 flats. Affordable housing is to be rented or shared ownership. Flats will have balconies and there will be communal gardens and play space at 1st floor level. There will be some parking for disabled flat occupants only, otherwise no parking provided for other flat residents.On the ground floor would be a Lidl shop with 70 parking spaces. Lidl estimates that about 40 jobs will be created. Above Lidl would be three tower blocks, starting at 16 stories and stepping down to approx. 12 and 8 stories going west along the A40. The tallest block will be on the NE corner above Lidl, so very visible. Access to the site will be moved next to 2 East Acton Lane. To improve the site environment the site will be edged on three sides with tree planting approx. 10-15m wide. Another option may be a green wall on the façade. Flats will be equipped with filters against pollution and double/triple glazing against noise.For information: www.barratt-westerncircus.co.uk0800 307 7319  /  westerncircus@ondoncommunications.co.ukLink to initial planning application (Screening Opinion) for the site on the council's website.https://pam.ealing.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=OX78HOJM0E200It’s important to try to find time to look at the proposals and give some feedback at this early stage.

Maire Lowe ● 3104d5 Comments

This planning application will be heard on 26th March at Ealing Town Hall. Residents are broadly in favour of housing and shops for the site but have the following concerns. The A40 at this junction is already congested at any hour of the day. The tailbacks at peak hours are considerable. The arrival of another 500 people who need to cross the road to access public transport will add to this congestion and the suggestion of a footbridge has not been taken up by TfL.This is a car free Application. This means that residents (except disabled persons) will not be able to park on the site or nearby. CANF are concerned that this discriminates against residents who require a vehicle for work. Qualified  Trades persons such as electricians, plumbers, gas specialists, traders such as shopkeepers, wine merchants, anyone who needs to collect wholesale goods. Commercial drivers taxi owners, anyone who has a vehicle as part of their remuneration.Do you or anyone you know fall in to these catagories? Do you use local trades persons, or local shops? Do you need a vehicle for work? If so, can you comment here or at CANForum.org. We want to hear from you.

Maire Lowe ● 2968d

Agree, they never provide enough parking and for some it is a necessity.

Janice Evans ● 3103d

One of the things that worries me is where people who need a vehicle for work are supposed to park up there? What about the plumbers, wine merchants, builders? Its one thing to encourage everyone to use public transport or cycle, and quite another to assume that everyone is able to do so. We need out independent businesses to flourish. Parking for commercial purposes should be included on such a site.

Maire Lowe ● 3104d

Two points - firstly the term "affordable" housing. Affordable for who? 80% of market rent is not affordable for most people. Why not build social housing at social housing rents for the thousands of people on the waiting list? Secondly - another Lidl? Really??

Chris Hurley ● 3104d

I don't have a problem with this.  If our population keeps growing we need to put them somewhere. What does make me laugh however is the architects picture the Western Avenue with only about 4 cars on one side and none whatsoever on the other. It's so misleading.  In this day and age they could easily take a photograph and superimpose their vision to that, but of course that would show reality which is less than pretty. It was also good to see what the Filmworks site might eventually look like... if it ever gets finished.

Tania Bapuji ● 3104d