Red Block Rebels Release Video on Ealing's 'Development Free-for-all'


Short film shows the 181 tower blocks of up to 55 storeys built or planned

A video has been released which local campaigners say gives a vivid demonstration of the extent of development planned for Ealing borough.

Red Block Rebels have joined forces with Ealing Matters to create a short video tour of the major developments that have been built or are currently under planning consideration.

Called ‘Ealing – The Sky’s the Limit’ the film uses architectural 3D modelling technology to ‘build’ each development and superimpose it on a map of the borough. The images are underpinned by data which it creators say has been painstakingly assembled from individual planning applications on Ealing Council’s website.

According to Red Block Rebels, ‘We were shocked by the extent to which development is changing the face of the borough. Worse still is the fact that it often bears little relation to Ealing’s Local Plan developed in consultation with local residents almost a decade ago. This is now so out of date that developers explicitly ignore it. Ealing Council is putting together a new Local Plan based on increased housing targets set by the London Mayor. We want to make people aware of what has happened with the current Plan before engaging with the new one.

‘We feel that the film is also timely in view of the changes to planning arrangements that have been brought about by the Covid-19 health emergency. Many residents are concerned that more of these developments will be waved through without proper scrutiny, particularly as site visits that help committee members to understand the scale of these schemes have been cancelled.’


CGI showing planned development in the borough

Ealing recently announced new arrangements for the handling of planning applications in the borough during the coronavirus outbreak. These received a mixed reaction from residents’ groups who claim that the council consistently fails to consult properly with the community.

‘Ealing – The Sky’s the Limit’ will premiere on YouTube on Tuesday, 19 May at 7.00pm.

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May 21, 2020