Oaks Redevelopment Revised Plans

Consultation closes on 16 August

Controversial proposals to redevelop the Oaks shopping centre have been revised and residents are being urged to comment before the consultation period ends on 16th August.

Acton Regeneration Company say they 'propose to breathe new life' into the area through a mixed use development. They have created a new website to illustrate their plans see here

They want:

• A new, 50,000 sq ft supermarket
• An improved town centre car park 
• The refurbishment of the existing Mall 
• 142 new homes (of which 22% will be affordable)
• Improvements to the burial ground open space
• A new community facility, for use by local groups

ARC say the scheme will bring with it 250 construction jobs for each year of build, together with 70 new full time jobs. They claim it represents an investment in excess of £40 million into the regeneration of Acton town centre.

Previous plans, which included a 11 storey towerblock dubbed the 'periscope' received a frosty reception from local residents.

Although that's been scaled down, the Ealing Central and Acton MP, Angie Bray, says the new offering is only slightly better:

'' They have definitely listened to some of the residents' concerns and it is encouraging that they have decided to build in red brick, which is more in keeping with the local architecture. I'm also pleased that there will be an affordable element in the housing on offer there.

''But there is still a tower, on the Acton High Street side of the site, and the building being seven storeys makes it a high and dense development that will dominate the skyline and worry residents. Concerns remain about the shops, too, so I still take the view that not a lot has changed to give the development the wow factor that Acton needs."

Residents who are concerned about the plans are being urged to take action immediately. The consultation deadline is 16th August - in the middle of the summer holidays - and locals want this extended.

A Facebook page has been set up and alternative proposals for the site suggested by a local architect here.

A spokesperson from Ealing Council says,''The revised planning application for the Oaks development, which was submitted to the council in July, is still pending and has not yet been determined.

''The plans show that the overall height of the building has been reduced, along with several other design changes. The number of proposed homes has remained the same. Local people were invited to comment on the new plans from 10 July, with the consultation period closing on 16 August."

August 8 2013