Special Needs School Plan for West Ealing's Broadway

A long-vacant retail unit on West Ealing’s Broadway could be transformed into a specialist education facility under new plans submitted to Ealing Council.

The application, lodged under reference 254735FUL, seeks permission for a change of use for 66 and 66A Broadway, W13 from retail to educational use. The proposal includes external alterations and the creation of a first-floor outdoor play space at the rear of the building.

The two-storey corner unit, at the junction of Broadway and Green Man Lane, has been empty since 2024. It previously housed a series of discount retailers, while the upper floors were used as offices and storage. The building is not listed and does not fall within a conservation area.

If approved, the site would become a new facility operated by TCES, an independent provider of specialist education for children and young people with complex needs. TCES works with pupils who cannot access mainstream schooling, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those who have experienced trauma or adverse childhood experiences.

The organisation runs several schools and services across London, offering what it describes as a therapeutic, highly personalised model of education. Its approach combines teaching, clinical support and pastoral care, with the aim of helping pupils re-engage with learning, build confidence and develop long-term life skills. TCES says its schools are designed to be safe, nurturing and structured environments where pupils can thrive academically and socially.

The planning statement submitted with the application explains that the ground floor would be adapted for classrooms and specialist teaching spaces, while the first floor would accommodate additional learning rooms and staff facilities.

A new enclosed outdoor play area is proposed above the existing single-storey rear section of the building, supported by a Noise Impact Assessment to address potential disturbance to neighbouring homes.

The site sits within Ealing Metropolitan Town Centre and has a high public transport accessibility rating.The applicant argues that the change of use would bring an active, community-focused function back into a unit that has been empty for more than a year, improving the appearance and vitality of this part of the Broadway.

Supporting documents also note that recent changes to national planning rules mean former retail units can now be used for a wide range of commercial purposes without permission, and in some cases converted to housing.

The applicant states that the school would generate employment and provide a much-needed local facility for children requiring specialist support.

Ealing Council will now consider the application, with a decision expected in the coming months.

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