There seems to be some confusion around the perceptions of what benefits this development will bring.Currently Ealing Council, which is the planning authority for this, doesn’t use the Community Infrastructure Levy. It’s been ‘pending’ since 2016, presumably awaiting the end of the huge wave of high rise developments set to engulf the borough, the profits of the builders come first. Section 106 is used, although there are many instances where the developers have had their obligations reduced or even removed. Naturally this is not publicised by Ealing Council.The provision of essential services is very scant on most new builds if this scale. There are plans for a 20 storey block on Hastings Road, adjacent to West Ealing Station. Southern Cross, who want to build this block (reduced from original plans of 26 storeys) made outrageous claims that a ‘new’ GP surgery would be accommodated on the ground floor of this tower. In reality it transpires this surgery is merely moving an existing nearby one to the new location. No extra patient capacity, just hundreds more new residents wanting to register. You can expect the same empty promises here.As I understand it there is no parking provision for the Bollo Lane project. This will be an easily agreed part of the s106 deal (better for developers as more space for dwellings = more profit). However, there is nothing going forward that would eventually see residents in the new flats being able to apply for parking permits in neighbouring CPZs. Indeed, if the attractiveness of the flats is increased by including the prospect of nearby parking at some point you can bet it will happen.Traffic will be a major issue. There are still commercial premises off Bollo Bridge Road, plus the increasingly overstretched recycling centre on Sterling Road. People will still need to access those, and not by bike!I’m reliably informed that the build quality on new towers like this is poor (the Arc building on Uxbridge Road has been beset with issues since completion, including having its very own Grenfell style cladding). People living there have had problem many with deliveries as there’s zero capacity for even drop off parking. Not very convenient if you need an Ocado shop, Amazon delivery or a new fridge from Curry’s. The received wisdom is such towers might last around 60 years.The argument against private vehicle use is spurious. Telling us we can all walk or cycle or, eventually, use public transport is predicated on the assumption that everyone is fit and able. Chiswick is not in zone one. Not everything is a 5 minute stroll away. Capacity on the Piccadilly line was often exceeded before the Covid crisis and at some point that level of usage will be reached again. The much needed upgrade on that line is some years away. Maybe some of the new residents will work locally or from home but many will have a need to travel to work.Something will get built on this land but as many have said it’s got to be in context with the area. If you object to these plans then do do on the planning department website but keep your objections related to material reasons (scale, impact on amenities, traffic, etc). Just saying you don’t like it won’t work! Better still, organise yourselves into groups and give the Council a hard time. Labour councillors will vote this through without debate, but they are all up for re-election in 2022, which might focus some minds more on what residents want (they get £10,000 a year in basic allowances, which is a nice little earner).Have a look at this website for some good guidance, and just see what Ealing Council have in the pipeline: https://stopthetowers.info/
Simon Hayes ● 2312d