A West London town is set to see six new blocks of flats built alongside the refurbishment of four existing blocks.
Ealing Council’s Planning Committee voted unanimously in favour of the redevelopment of the 1950s estate in Mount Close. The site is 1km from Ealing Broadway station.
The estate currently holds 40 homes across six blocks, two of which will be demolished. Following the redevelopment, there will be a net increase of 138 homes.
All of the homes will be built to rent, comprising a total of 178 new homes, including 29 existing flats which will be refurbished. The scheme will also provide 65 affordable flats in the form of Discount Market Rent.
The highest block will reach six storeys, with the entire scheme between four and six storeys high. The development will be delivered by Dolphin Living, an affordable housing charity which says it focuses on high quality affordable homes for London’s intermediate earners.
The site will provide car parking, however it is restricted to residents who have lived on the estate since before 2016, and residents with a blue badge. Future tenants will be banned from attaining parking permits.
Ealing Council received 103 representations from residents, including 92 objections and 11 letters of support. This includes concerns about the provision of family sized and genuinely affordable homes.
The regenerated site will provide 89 one-bedroom homes, 46 two-bedroom homes, and three three-bedroom homes. Officers noted the concerns, however outlined that of the existing homes set to be redeveloped, 17 are two-bedroom, and 23 are three-bedroom, arguing that the higher number of smaller new homes achieved a more balanced site-wide mix.
Concerns were also raised about the height of the development. However the council believe as the taller blocks are strategically placed along Castlebar Road, a main thoroughfare, greater scale is appropriate.
Councillor Julian Gallant, who ultimately voted in favour of the development, shared these concerns. Speaking at the hearing on Wednesday, October 22, he said: “I had listened to the objection tonight, I had concerns about some of the height of the highest blocks – six storeys – that they aren’t necessarily in keeping with the architecture of the local area.
“I wrestled with that but I really do think that Dolphin [the developer] has made an effort to make this a pleasant place to live in. It’s got openness… greenery, amenity, and they’ve made a big effort to do that, and crucially it’s 50 per cent affordable housing [by habitable room] right in the middle of Ealing.”
Affordable housing starts in Ealing had plummeted by almost 100 per cent, down to only 13 new affordable housing starts throughout 2023/24. Councillors shared the view that it is crucial to increase the provision of affordable homes in the borough.
Some objected to the development out of fear it could cause additional pressure on local health services, schools and local facilities. Council officers argued that the proposed Section 106 agreement will mitigate any impact on local infrastructure.
The agreement includes £361,905 towards education infrastructure and £66,000 towards healthcare provisions. The developer will pay over £1million in Section 106 payments in total.
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