Tall & Urban News

Planning inspector, Paul Griffins, has approved DMWR Architects’ scheme for 55 West, overruling the rejection it received from the Ealing Council last year.

The narrow vote by the Ealing Council came after 2,627 people and multiple local groups, including Ealing Civic Society, the Drayton’s Community Association, and Central Ealing Residents Association, objected the building scheme. The Ealing Council contended that the building would have a negative impact on the character and appearance of the surrounding area. They also argued that the project did not provide adequate affordable housing because it did not offer London affordable rent tenures.

The inspector argued that the design was exemplary and did not harmfully impact the appearance of the area. He also believed that different forms of affordable housing cannot be ranked and that the affordable housing the project does provide, 50 London Living Rent units and 94 shared ownership units, are also needed in the area. Despite the inspector’s review, Ealing Council still stands by their decision.

The project will be located in West Ealing near the West Ealing Crossrail station. Construction for the project is planned to begin in 2022 and the project is scheduled to complete in Q4 2024.

For more on this story, go to the Architect’s Journal.