News emerges as Galliford Try appointed for the massive project in central Ealing

Plans are in the pipeline for Longfield Avenue in Ealing Town Centre to be pedestrianised as part of the huge redevelopment of Perceval House.

CGI image of the plans for the redevelopment of the site

The stretch of road between the town hall and Perceval House was subject to a road trial last year and has now had controversial road changes implemented prohibiting turning left out of, or right into Longfield Avenue at the junction with New Broadway.

The council said the changes were needed to improve road safety in the area, hundreds of thousands of pounds has been raised in penalty fines from drivers not heeding the signs.

It's now proposed Longfield Avenue will be pedestrianised as part of the redevelopment, ''creating a people-friendly public space connecting the Perceval House development with Dickens Yard and Ealing Town Hall.''

Opposition Councillors have been shocked to hear the plans: Cllr Alex Stafford who represents the Ealing Broadway ward told us:

"This is extremely worrying as residents and councillors have not been informed about this momentous decision. The Labour administration seems to be railroading this through with no consultation with anyone. It will create a lot of difficulties to local residents and business, especially around Dickens Yard. This is just yet more arrogance from the Labour administration, wilfully neglecting residents around Longfield. There must be a full and thorough consultation process, rather than meekly bowing down to developer’s demands.”  

Cllr Seema Kumar, another Ealing Broadway Councillor said:

"Springing this on us is the height of arrogance.  They did it with the banned left turn and now this.  Clearly Labour is not bothered by what residents think or given any consideration to how residents and the public will be able to access the 583 car parking spaces at Dickens Yard.

This is another ill thought out plan by a Labour Administration, who is not listening and not working for residents.”

The news comes from Ealing Council who announced that developers, Galiford Try, have been given cabinet approval to redevelop the main office building.

Subject to planning permission, there will be a new, smaller civic centre fronting Uxbridge Road replacing the existing one. It will include a customer services centre a library, and basement car park.

The remainder of the site will be for around 470 flats, 50% of which will be affordable, and four retail units. The proposals also include a 20 storey tower block .

The redevelopment process will be done in stages and the Uxbridge Road front of Perceval House Road will be bulldozed first with staff moving into the rear of the building and other council properties, At the same time, work will start on building the new homes at the back of the site.

Once the new building is finished - scheduled for 2021, staff will move in,

Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said: “Galliford Try’s proposal makes the most of this prime town centre location and will provide a modern and efficient civic centre, as well as complementing the ongoing construction of the cinema site and Dickens Yard, and the planned redevelopment of Ealing Town Hall.

“Local authorities across the country are under immense financial pressure and Ealing is no different. We must adapt to our new financial reality by making the most of the assets that we have and capitalising on the opportunities that present themselves, such as Crossrail. By improving our town centres in this way, we will attract more people and jobs to Ealing.”

A public planning consultation on the scheme is expected to take place in spring 2018.

13th December 2017 (updated 14th)