Forum Topic

Ealing Council approve amendments to Bollo Lane development

Have Ealing Council talked with Thames Water about increases to this development? At the top of Bollo Lane, Gunnersbury Court residents are being told that a pump will need to be installed to supply adequate water pressure to their flats. Thames Water admit to reducing water pressure recently. Increased demand surely equates to reduced supply in this instance.

Linda Field ● 39d15 Comments

The industrial space is generally conserved with the new developments being 'mixed-use' and including residential on the upper floors and workshops on the ground. Whether the owners will be that bothered to rent out the industrial space given the potential hassle of a business that potentially annoys residents, remains to be seen. In the meantime, I think TfL have exploited pretty full the scope to add height to buildings on their scheme which is why it tapers down in height as you get to Acton Gardens.

Mark Evans ● 30d

..yet the ‘industrial space’ on the South Acton Industrial Estate is also being picked off bit by bit by speculative applications for  residential blocks, yet with no apparent overarching plan, unlike the Acton Gardens redevelopment.

Peter Evans ● 30d

Assuming typical floor heights, Bollo Brook House will be 85 metres tall so won't be troubling air traffic control and that is by far the tallest building proposed for this area. Although there is tendency to thing of Bollo Lane as running east to west it actually runs South East to North West which means 'right to light' will constrain the heights of buildings on the railtrack side. Bollo Brook House is so tall because there is only industrial space to its north.

Mark Evans ● 30d

The Civil Aviation Authority have a height limit on tall buildings in London of 309.6m AOD (above ordnance datum)

Janice Evans ● 30d

Blocks approved last year close to South Acton station were above the Local Plan height restrictions with the argument used that this was justified by the extra housing provided. The recent Bollo Lane amendments is justified by fire safety but it could be that they are just resetting the clock on the application which means they can sit back and see what other precedents are created for taller buildings and then boost the height some more.

Alison Howard ● 31d

We’re particularly irritated by the apparent designation of the south end of Bollo Lane as an ‘established’ location for the tallest blocks. I remember when we objected to them raising the height of the final block over in the Business Park, we were told it wouldn’t set a precedent as each subsequent planning application had to be judged on its own merits. However, when the Pocket Homes application came along for between the level crossings, they quoted the Business Park block as a precedent and got it through, and further ad hoc developments in and around the S Acton Industrial Estate have done the same, culminating in these tall TfL blocks. Not helped, I suspect, by Ealing Council’s lack of a Draft Plan. But remembering the artists’ impressions, I look forward to the row of delightful cafes and restaurants and dinky shops to be provided on the ground floor of these new towers - and of course, the wonderful new pavement!

Peter Evans ● 33d

I'm not convinced these flats will ever be built in their proposed form. The huge tower at the Chiswick end will start going up soon and that is likely to be the most profitable part of the scheme. However, with higher interest rates and rising building costs, the rest might not be viable so TfL may be tempted to sit on the rest of the project and argue later for buildings as tall as Bollo Brook House along the eastern end of Bollo Lane.

Alison Howard ● 33d

Saw it today and it looks a mess. Possibly a case of ''leaves on the line'' mass cutting down of trees. Now an unsightly mess

peter king ● 35d

Except today I see the nice tree-lined embankment along Bollo Lane is no more, as the trees have been cut down and the bushes cleared away.

Peter Evans ● 36d

Ah I used to park the embankment side it was awkward a bit tight with thelink fence.

Janice Evans ● 37d

Actually, Bollo Lane isn’t that bad!Most of one side is now lined by the comparatively new and reasonably well-proportioned (9 stories max) Acton Gardens development, while the other side, which they’re going to line with much taller tower blocks, is at the moment an established and pleasant tree lined embankment. But I do look forward to getting the new extra pavement they’ve promised us!

Peter Evans ● 38d

Agree with Mike, it had remained the same for decades.

Janice Evans ● 39d

You can guarantee the proportion affordable’ homes will be reduced, as has happened elsewhere. What’s not being built is social housing, ie council houses, to give lower income residents secure tenancies in decent standard homes.

Simon Hayes ● 39d

Much of Bollo Lane is an ugly duckling and has been left behind. Regardless of one's thoughts on how big places have to be, people need to live somewhere and, let's not forget how well connected it is with Acton Town at one end and Chiswick Park at the other. As for water, I'm sure they'll find it!

Mike Smith ● 39d

Usual deal. Extensive consultation and scale models over the initial plans and then sneak through some extra floors when we’re not looking!But at least we’re getting a nice new pavement up the other side of Bollo Lane, so we shouldn’t complain!

Peter Evans ● 39d