Development and Design

The night of the monthly Labour Group Meeting, preceded as ever by a number of presentations.

This included presentations by each of the four companies who have been shortlisted as potential developers of the key 400,000 sq ft Dickens Yard site between Ealing Town Hall and Christ St Saviour church. The four teams all had plans that involved new public spaces, shops of a character that aren’t currently attracted to Ealing, and new housing with a large proportion being affordable for local people. However, there are also very clear differences of approach – particularly in design terms – that make for a real choice between the four – Barratts West London, Centros Miller, Helicon Exemplar, and St Georges.

At the Labour Group, we heard from GLA Member Murad Qureshi and Iqbal Vaid of the TGWU about the Gate Gourmet dispute at Heathrow Airport. Many of the employees unilaterally sacked by Gate Gourmet are residents of the Borough – particularly in Southall. We agreed to make a donation to their funds, given the hardship they are suffering.

The major item at the Group Meeting itself was as usual the agenda for the following night’s Cabinet Meeting. There’s a particularly interesting report (at least to a local government anorak like me) on draft new urban design guidance for the Borough. There is a legacy in this Borough of some very good design, but also some terrible tat that was allowed to be built - particularly in the 1960 s and 1970s. The document looks in some detail at achieving good quality and consistent design, and I particularly welcome the emphasis on uncluttered streets with well designed street furniture that puts people rather than vehicles to the fore. The summary report can be seen at http://www.ealing.gov.uk/council/committees/cabinet/17may2005-22may2006/item17-approvalofurbandesign.doc