From regeneration to rehousing a growing city
Our architects, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands (LDS), have a long track record of creating enduring, community-focused architecture. The practice’s Oxo Tower Wharf project in the 1990s pioneered mixed-use regeneration and demonstrated how housing, culture and commerce could thrive together. Today, London faces different pressures: the city has grown by the equivalent of central Rome in just two decades, and new housing is urgently needed. The West Ealing scheme reflects LDS’s belief that density, housing delivery and good design can be brought together on complex urban sites to meet this challenge.
Balancing heritage and growth
The site’s location has heritage sensitivities, sitting between Edwardian and Victorian housing and locally listed buildings, while also adjoining the Elizabeth Line Station. The design solution is a carefully stepped profile: taller blocks placed near the Station and railway, with heights reducing towards neighbouring homes. During the planning approval process, it was concluded that this created “a logical basis” for the townscape and the Government Planning Inspector praised the way the stepped profile eases the transition between scales.
Homes designed for modern living
The homes embody JLP’s ethos of quality, service and long-term stewardship. Every flat - whether market rent or affordable - is built and furnished to the same specification, ensuring a genuinely tenure-blind community. At least 83 affordable homes will be delivered, contributing significantly at both a Borough and London wide level.
Layouts maximise daylight and flexibility and meet or exceed sizing standards.
Creating green, shared spaces
Shared terraces and gardens are integral to the design, with spaces for residents and the public prioritised. These transform a car park into places where people can meet, relax and connect. Green infrastructure is embedded throughout, enhancing biodiversity and supporting wellbeing, while softening the visual character of the development.
Supporting retail and regeneration
A pragmatic balance has also been struck with retail. The supermarket is essential to West Ealing’s town centre vitality and meeting local community needs, so the new store will be built on the first floor with car parking on the ground floor, screened with active frontage onto Alexandria Road. This frees up space above and adjoining the store for new housing, a public square and landscaped areas.
Continuing to serve our valued customers during construction of the new store is a priority. As a result we plan to erect a temporary store on the car park. This will be approximately one third of the size of the existing store with approx 61 car parking spaces. Although smaller, this temporary store will still stock a wide range of products to satisfy our customers daily shopping needs.