Council Scraps Controversial Perceval House Scheme
New fire safety requirements couldn't be incorporated into designs
A visualisation of the now scrapped development. Picture: Vistry/Ealing Council
April 23, 2023
Ealing Council has announced that it no longer intends to proceed with its controversial scheme to develop Perceval House.
Although the development which was being carried out in partnership with the Vistry Group had already been given planning permission, the intention is now to retrofit the existing six storey council headquarters which was constructed in the eighties.
There were over 2,000 objections to the original massive scheme which was originally proposed in 2014 and included a 26-storey tower as well as 477 flats. In addition to a new civic centre, the designs included a new central Ealing library.
Local people were overwhelmingly opposed to the impact that the tall tower would have had on local views particularly from Walpole Park and elderly residents living in purpose-built accomodation nearby feared overshadowing and years of noise and disruption. Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq had also expressed her opposition to the scheme.
The council says that an increase in costs has rendered the approved plans unviable. As well as a rise in the prices of materials and construction costs, the requirement for a second staircase in the taller towers has ‘proved very difficult to incorporate into the existing designs’.
The council’s chief executive Tony Clements said the new plans would make Perceval House more of a community building and help to shift the culture of the council as a result. He added, “We know that we need to make a shift in our working culture and practices to deliver the council’s priorities and deliverables for Ealing. At the heart of this are council staff and their interactions with each other and our communities.”
Once the makeover is complete, half of the building would be made available for the use of the public and local businesses with the ground floor devoted to community activities and two floors let out as offices. The remaining floors would be retained as office space for council staff and councillors. Work on the refurbishment is scheduled to start at the end of this year.
CGI of how the tall tower in the development would have looked from Walpole Park
Council leader Peter Mason said, “When this administration inherited the old plans for Perceval House, it was clear that the proposals represented a huge change for the borough, one with a big financial commitment and many years of disruption. With the old scheme now at an end, we can turn our minds to reimagining a new council building, open to the public, accessible to resident’s needs, with the community at the heart of it.
“By taking a retrofit first approach to our renewed proposals for our council HQ, we’re fulfilling our pledge to do all we can to tackle the climate crisis and be carbon neutral as a council by 2030. We equally remain committed to building genuinely affordable homes, reducing car use, and supporting the transition to renewable energy, so we’re going to take some time to reconsider how we do just that while keeping Perceval House open.”
Jon Ball of the Liberal Democrats has welcomed the news that Perceval House will be kept
Councillor Shital Manro, the council’s cabinet member for good growth, said: “We remain committed to getting more genuinely affordable homes built in the borough and increasing local electricity capacity to support the transition to cleaner energy. So, we will keep looking at options for how part of the site can support those aims, such as the council’s car park ion Longfield Avenue.
“This reset also means that any future plans for residential development on this site will comply with our new local planning policy guidance on tall buildings, and, therefore, will not be as high as some elements of the previous scheme.
“Openness and inclusion will be at the heart of our renewed approach to Perceval House,” added Councillor Mason. “Very soon, we will start engagement with both residents and staff to open-up the building, creating a modern, accessible and welcoming environment for the whole community.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Jon Ball, Opposition Spokesperson on Planning & Developments said, “I am relieved that the Perceval House scheme will not be going ahead. The tall tower was unacceptable right next to the Grade II listed Ealing Town Hall, one of the most important buildings in Ealing’s Victorian heritage and we in the Lib Dem group campaigned against this scheme.
“However, this will leave a huge hole in the Council’s finances and also in its affordable housing plans. The Labour leadership must urgently answer the questions that this announcement poses.”
Cllr Julian Gallant, leader of the Conservative group on the council said, "Ealing Conservatives have long argued against this project because it was financially unviable and because it was against the wishes of the local community.
"Only a few weeks ago Ealing Conservatives challenged the Labour Cabinet's decision to proceed with the proposed development, but the ruling Labour Councillors refused to listen to reason.
"Now they have been forced to see sense.
"Ealing Conservatives will be asking how much money has been wasted on this abandoned project."
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