New Look Ealing Broadway Plans Revealed

Changes to both the interior and exterior

Redesigned proposals for improvements to Ealing Broadway station have been revealed by Crossrail.

Original ideas submitted last year were heavily criticised (see image).

Previous proposal

Since then Crossrail has been working with Ealing Council, local developers and nearby landowners to broaden the scheme.

There has also been consultation with the Ealing Central and Acton MP,Angie Bray and community groups, allowing them the opportunity to comment on the designs. The group recently wrote to Isabel Dedring, deputy Mayor for Transport urging that the redevelopment should not be rushed through.

The new proposals for the station, designed by Bennetts Associates Architects, include the addition of a long, curved canopy running the length of the forecourt that Crossrail say 'reflects the prominence and importance of the station building'.

Crossrail’s plans allow for the current dated façade to be replaced with a new glass structure and a new entrance twice the size of the existing one, which will allow much more natural light into the building.

Inside the station, improvements comprise:

· A ticket hall more than twice the size of the existing one with capacity for 17 standard ticket gates and one wide gate

· Four new lifts to provide step free access from street level to all platforms

· Improved staircases for platforms 1 and 2/3

· Platform extensions to accommodate the new high capacity Crossrail trains

· New toilet facilities

· New customer information screens, station signage, help points and CCTV

Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council said: “The council was determined to secure a high quality station for Ealing Broadway and has worked hard with Crossrail to ensure the designs match Ealing’s aspirations.

“The council is pleased that, following our intervention, Crossrail decided to completely re-think its plans and responded constructively to the design observations we put forward. We are confident that the revised station plans will create a building which works better for people and is of a scale and appearance that benefits Ealing as west London’s premier town centre.

“The council is also currently finalising further plans which will transform the entire area around the station, as well as improve safety and transport links, and upgrade the look and feel of the area. These plans will be announced shortly.”

The revised designs will be open to community consultation before Ealing Council takes its decision on planning.

Matthew White, Crossrail Surface Director, said: “Ealing Broadway will be a key stop on the Crossrail route and we understand the need to provide local people with a much better station building than they have at the moment.

“By working with the council, community groups, developers and nearby landowners we have improved our proposals and broadened the scheme. Our plans are for a station that will be brighter, more spacious, easier to get around and more visually prominent.”

Conservative MP Angie Bray, has been involved with the consultation from the start and welcomes the changes but says the challenge now is for Ealing Council and TfL to get the station to 'fit' into the surrounding area.

She says: ''I welcome the intervention of Ealing council with Crossrail to get an improved design for the station and I think most people would agree that the new plans for the station frontage do help to give Ealing Broadway station a greater presence which is important.

''However it is worth noting that this intervention only came about after an outcry from many local residents that the original designs were well below standard and that there had been little engagement with the community by the council or Crossrail. I am pleased I was able to help by arranging a meeting in Parliament where community representatives were able to discuss their concerns directly with the Council and Crossrail as well as the Deputy of Mayor for Transport from City Hall. And of course this is not the end of the matter.

''There are many more hugely important issues to consider and to get right such as how the buses coming to and from the station will be organised and how to get the right balance between pedestrians and vehicle access to the station. It will be essential to make plans in such a way that the local environment is properly protected too. I only hope the Council will be engaging with the local community at a much earlier stage on these matters than it has been prepared to do in the past.'

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5th June 2014