Compulsory Purchase Order to be served in north Acton
A new public square could be built in front of North Acton tube station, following a decision by Ealing Council’s Cabinet.
Cabinet decided to serve a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the owners of the Esso Service Station on Victoria Road, north Acton. If successful, this will force the owners to sell the site to the council, clearing the way for it to be developed into a new station entrance.
The council has been in negotiations with the owners of the petrol station since March. Two offers have been made to purchase the site, but both have been declined.
Passengers currently enter North Acton station using a narrow alleyway with steep stairs at either end. The proposed development will see the petrol station demolished and a new square built. This will make it easier to enter and exit the station, improve the interchange between the tube, bus and nearby train station, as well as creating an important public space.
Councillor Julian Bell, Leader of Ealing Council, said: “The council does not issue CPOs very often, but we have made every effort to negotiate with the owners to buy the petrol station and talks are not progressing.
“We are determined to make this area better for residents and businesses and the purchase of this land is central to our plan. We don’t want to miss this opportunity which is why we are acting now to force the owners to sell the site to us.”
The site will be purchased using section106 contributions from previous Acton developments. The s106 money is funding which developers agreed to pay Ealing Council as part of the planning approval process. The purpose of the funding is to lessen or off set any harmful impacts of major developments.
This is one of several regeneration projects in Acton. The area was recently awarded £500,000 from the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund and £190,000 from the council. This will be spent on local initiatives including improving Acton Market and The Mount on King Street, and supporting local traders and community festivals.
Work is also due to start soon on turning Acton Town Hall and Acton Baths into a new community, library and leisure space.
And proposals have also been submitted to the council for the redevelopment of the Oaks Shopping Centre on High Street.
All Cabinet decisions are subject to call in for a period of five working days from the date of publication of the minutes of the meeting.
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13th October 2011