Residents are fuming with proposed plans to knock down a local ‘heritage building’ in West London and replace it with a multi-story hotel. There have been objections from locals who don’t want to lose the building nor have more people living in the area.
Avison Young, a global real estate agent, has applied for planning permission on behalf of an investor, to build the hotel on the site of the East Acton Arcade, 93 Old Oak Common Lane, Acton, London. To build the hotel it would mean knocking down the current structure and putting the hotel together from the ground up. Currently, there are multiple businesses inside the building which include a snooker club and local convenience stores.
The proposed hotel would include multiple stories and a basement. Within the plans was a commitment to give the businesses currently working at the site the opportunity to have a space within the building. It is not yet clear whether this will benefit them or not, as rent could be higher and they could have less space.
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The planning application proposes the demolition of the current East Acton Arcade space
(Image: WP)
For some locals and business owners the plans weren’t good enough. Harry Watkins, owner of the snooker club inside the premises, said: “This is my business premises. Only today when I parked in the side road did I see an application. I am totally shocked. I would have been in contact as soon as I knew that this application had been made. This is also a Heritage site.”
More objections came through on the council website, with one stating: “Any construction or deconstruction would be noisy and dirty and would disturb the local peace needlessly. The proposed development is very close to the rear of my domicile and it would disturb me to create a development which I have no interest in nor any desire to see made. This is not progress in my opinion. I see no reason to change that status and no need to develop it. Extra traffic and personnel to the area is not needed nor sought.”
The planning application was put to the council and if allowed would mean ‘demolition of existing building and construction of multi-storey hotel with basement, ancillary ground floor hotel lobby and shared café/restaurant/workspaces; and associated landscape works and public realm improvements’. Currently, the application process is still pending and awaiting review.
Ealing Civic Society, who campaign to preserve and improve the urban landscape in the London Borough of Ealing, also object to the plans. They said: “We regret the proposed loss of the existing building which, in its original state, would have been worthy of consideration for local listing and which retains a façade that could be restored to its original form.
“In addition, the loss of daylight to nos. 1 and 3 Brassie Avenue, due to the proposed construction, would be unacceptable. We note that a partial history of the existing building has been identified but a full history is not known.”
The proposals will be reviewed by Ealing Council at a later date which has not yet been decided. There, they will take into consideration all parties’ objections. All businesses currently at the Arcade can get a space at the new build if completed. It is not yet certain if this deal will be better or worse for them.
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