Opposition Grows to Planned Demolition of Woolworths Façade

Art deco building on Ealing Broadway to be replaced by 14 storey tower

The Woolworth's building as it was in the sixties

A local amenity society is looking for support from Ealing residents in their attempt to save the façade of the former Woolworth’s store on the Broadway.

The art deco frontage which has been a landmark building in the area since the twenties is to be demolished as part of a plan by Housing Association A2Dominion to build a 14 storey block of flats overlooking the High Street at .

Woolworth’s ceased to trade from the site in December 2008 as poor trading conditions led to the closure of all their stores.

West Ealing Neighbourhood Forum (WECNF) have identified a number of heritage landmarks that they are seeking to protect within the town centre including the Woolworth’s facade. The four storey opposite the market square is in desperate need of careful restoration and conservation. WECNF believe that this piece of West Ealing’s history, once restored and preserved, should be incorporated into any new building on this site and their members voted that it be designated as a heritage asset back in November 2013. They are joined by a number of other local groups in opposing the plans including West Ealing Neighbours, Walpole Residents Association, Ealing Civic Society and Save Ealing’s Centre.

The property was recently acquired by A2Dominion. In plans exhibited by the company earlier this month they revealed that they wanted to remove the façade. A2Dominion says it will submit a Planning Application in September 2017.

WECNF claim that Ealing Council planners have endorsed the demolition of the façade and that the Heritage Client Manager has stated that she would not support adding the façade to the LBE Register of Local Heritage Assets.

A council spokesperson said, “We have not received any formal planning application for this building and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment at this stage. Any architectural merits of the existing building would be taken into account during the application process.”

If you agree with WECNF you can sign their petition to preserve the structure on their web site.

August 3, 2017