The Central Ealing Neighbourhood Forum has welcomed the news that Benson Elliot, the current owners and developers of 1 - 8 The Broadway (the former Arcadia Centre), have secured a long-term purchaser for this important corner site in the town centre.

The buyer will be Pramerica Real Estate Investors, the European arm of The Prudential Corporation of America.  BE will continue with their construction works and handovers to incoming tenants and Pramerica will take over as long-term owner in the Autumn.

The good news is that this forward commitment means BE has the resources - both financial and people - to focus fully on the next phase of their development. 

"This is another positive vote for the future of Central Ealing, and I'm glad that this does not diminish Benson Elliot's commitment to Phase 2," said Nick Woolven, CENF Chair. 

In congratulating BE, Mr Woolven added: "We appreciate your enlightened approach to engagement in Ealing's issues.  I think this deal indicates that your approach makes  economic sense.     

"We look forward to meeting Pramerica in due course, as well as continuing the dialogue with BE on how the rest of the larger site will be developed."

What do YOU think? Leave us your comments here. 

Some improvement – but not enough.

That’s the conclusion of the Forum’s transport group, and forms the basis of their comments to Ealing Council in the consultation on Crossrail’s formal submission for approval of their latest plans for rebuilding Ealing Broadway station.

Changes from the draft we looked at in July/August have resulted in rather better lift provision.  There will be two rather than one serving platforms 3 to 9, and they will be straight through – ie, they will allow passengers to enter from one side and leave from the other, though we still don’t know the specific lift sizes.  The layout of the concourse has been improved, with better retail space and clearer passenger routes, and details of more toilet facilities have been provided.

Unfortunately most of the major issues we wanted addressed, as set out in our comments in our August blog below, have not been resolved. Crossrail have made it clear they will not be restoring the original design features which would have given a single, straight overbridge to all platforms, with escalator access from the concourse level. The alterations that have been made to the external frontage to the forecourt, and the bleak canopy illustrated below, have shown hardly any improvement.  Although there is an undertaking that negotiations will take place with Maxicorp, the current owners of Villiers House, to see if a more integrated design for the frontage can be agreed, nothing is committed. We are unhappy with access arrangements from the street for those needing to reach the entrance by car, such as the disabled and those with luggage, and also remain unconvinced that the planned capacity adequately allows for future growth.

Our detailed submission to the Council can be seen here. We hope the Planning Committee will recognise the strength of feeling in all quarters that Ealing deserves a better gateway to the town centre than is now proposed, and in particular that the latest design still does not sufficiently respect the character of the surrounding conservation areas.  There is still time for a solution worthy of the next century to be produced!