Council Decides Against Northfields Conservation Area

A report into Conservation Areas (CAs) across the borough of Ealing has concluded that the Northfields Conservation Area should not be proceeded with at this stage.

The borough planning committee is due to be presented with the report by Mark Price, Principal Heritage Officer this Wednesday (18 November). It concludes that the final consultation found the case for designation was not sufficiently strong with a mixed response from residents

Officers recommended postponing any new Northfields designation following a six-week public consultation that ran from October 2023 to January 2024. The review, prepared by heritage specialists and council officers, concluded that while parts of the area — notably Lammas Park and the Dean Gardens allotments — clearly merit protection, the proposed boundary covered too many streets with a mix of building ages and qualities, which diluted the distinctiveness needed for conservation status.

There was a sustained and well-organised local campaign to designate Northfields as a conservation area, supported by residents, heritage groups, and planning experts. The proposal for a Northfields Conservation Area was first formally submitted to Ealing Council by local resident Kay Garmeson, with support from heritage consultant William Filmer-Sankey, in 2021.

The campaign was supported by groups such as Ealing Civic Society and Ealing Matters. The area was identified as having retained much of its Edwardian and interwar character, with coherent streetscapes, mature trees, and historic features that warranted protection. The council commissioned a full character appraisal from heritage specialists ARUP, which subdivided the area into six distinct character zones.

The consultation returned only limited support: around 30% of respondents backed the broad Northfields proposal, while many residents and owners argued that large parts of the area had been altered or were of only mediocre design. Officers noted the appraisal subdivided the area into six character zones but judged the overall boundary “simply too large” to justify conservation designation under national guidance. As a result, Lammas Park will be recommended for separate designation and Dean Gardens remains protected under open space policies, but the wider Northfields bid will be paused pending further, more focused studies.

The decision follows a borough-wide conservation area review that proposes a number of other boundary changes as well as the new Lammas Park Conservation Area. Officers say the next steps include updated character appraisals, site notices and formal registration of any approved changes. Residents who wanted a broader Northfields designation may yet see more narrowly drawn proposals: officers flagged streets such as Elers Road and Kingsdown Avenue as worthy of further investigation.

Council officers and the Conservation Area Advisory Panels emphasised the legal and policy tests that guide decisions: a conservation area must demonstrate clear architectural or historic interest, and authorities must avoid diluting the meaning of designation by applying it too widely.

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