Time Running Out To Comment on New Friary Park Plans
Latest scheme sees a further increase in size of development
Verified view from the planning documents showing the scale of the development
The latest planning application to redevelop the Friary Park Estate has been submitted and time is running out for residents to make comments.
Having abandoned an earlier attempt to significantly increase the height of the buildings, the developers Mount Anvil and Catalyst have now made a hybrid planning application in which they seek detailed permission for parts of the development and outline permission for phases to be built later in the project. The new scheme increases the number of flats in the development from 990 already approved to 1,228.
The current proposals are based on an earlier application for which permission was received in November 2020. In the latest design, height, footprint and massing are increased with some of the towers made taller but none beyond the already approved height of 24 storeys for two of the towers. Under the present scheme seven buildings in the development will be over 14 storeys high with one increased to 17 storeys.
Blocks A, B, E, F, G and H and associated landscaping now form the detailed application and Blocks C and D form the outline application.
50% of the additional 238 flats to be built would be classed as affordable split 60% rented and 40% shared ownership and the landscape design has been changed to provide a community square at the centre of the scheme.
Another controversial aspect of the scheme is to convert part of Friars Green Place into a multi-use games area (MUGA) using common land on the triangular green space.
The abortive attempt to increase the height of the main towers to 37 and 29 storeys was defeated after over 1,000 objections were received and this latest proposal has already attracted over 600 negative comments. According to the Ealing Council web site, the deadline for commenting on the development is 22 June with a decision due to be made on the proposal in August.
A model of the development in its local context from the planning documents
Phase one of the earlier consented scheme began last year but the developers now say an increase in scale is needed. Their planning statement issued with the application says, “The impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we use our homes to live and work. This has highlighted the importance of having appropriate areas within our homes to work and to have access to good quality external space, both private and communal, and the benefits that this has on our mental and physical wellbeing. The new London Plan has been published and clearly identifies the need to optimise development opportunities on appropriate sites, in order to address the shortage of new affordable homes within the city. The new Crossrail station at Acton, adjacent to the site, is nearing completion and this significant investment in a sustainable transport network has significantly increased the demand for new high quality and affordable homes in LB Ealing and Acton specifically. These factors highlight the need to appraise the consented scheme and review the potential opportunities to improve it. This is in order to respond to the current and emerging context and to see that the scheme presents a benefit and positive contribution to the local community beyond the red line boundary of the site. “
A visualisation of the scheme from the developers
The reference for the scheme on the Ealing Council planning portal is 221747HYBRID.
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June 16, 2022
