The application for new development at 9-42 The Broadway in the centre of the Ealing will be considered by the planning committee on 24 February. The report to the committee has been condemned by local and national heritage bodies in no uncertain terms. Most damagingly the government’s heritage body, Historic England (HE), has accused the officer’s report of misrepresenting its advice to the committee and has insisted that its earlier representations on the development proposals are placed before the committee in full and not summarised in a misleading way [download their letter here]. If, as it has recommended, conservation area status is reconsidered should the planning application be passed by the planning committee, this could lead to the floodgates being opened for similar large scale schemes in the town centre which would destroy its character. HE advises that it would be possible to achieve many of the developments aims without inflicting such damage on the character of the town centre. HE has been supported by other respected heritage bodies including the Victorian Society [download their letter here] and SAVE Britain’s Heritage [download their letter here] as well as local groups Save Ealing’s Centre and Ealing Civic Society. A briefing note for councillors attending the planning committee meeting prepared by local groups is available here. There is further information about this issue on our News page.
Stop press: the Planning Committee voted in favour by 8 votes to 5 when approving the planning application at its meeting on 24 February. The application will now submitted to the Mayor for final determination. Local groups campaigning against the application, including the Society, expressed disappointment with the outcome and said that they would be considering their next steps in the light of the decision of the committee despite the universal condemnation of the scheme by national and local heritage bodies.