FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We understand that proposals for new development often generate questions, and we believe it is important to provide clear and straightforward answers. We have therefore prepared responses to some of the questions we think local residents and stakeholders are most likely to ask about the proposals.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, or would like to discuss any aspect of the scheme in more detail, please don't hesitate to contact the project team.
Why is the existing house being demolished?
Before developing the proposals, we carefully considered whether the existing house could be retained, converted or extended.
Detailed assessments concluded that, due to the age and layout of the building, converting it into apartments would require extensive structural alterations and would still fail to achieve the standards expected of modern homes. The existing house also sits between two substantially larger school buildings.
Redevelopment provides the opportunity to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes that better respond to the site's current context while making more effective use of this previously developed site to contribute to the housing needs of the area.
Why can't the existing house simply be converted?
This option was carefully explored. The existing building would require substantial structural alterations, acoustic upgrades, fire protection works and insulation improvements. Even then, the resulting homes would not achieve the quality, accessibility or energy performance expected of modern new-build housing.
A new building provides significantly better living conditions, improved sustainability and a more efficient use of the site.
Why are nine homes proposed?
The number of homes has been determined through detailed design work, planning policy and technical assessments.
The proposals provide a balanced mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes, including family accommodation and a wheelchair-adaptable home. This enables the site to make an appropriate contribution towards local housing needs while remaining compatible with its surroundings.
Has Ealing Council been involved?
Yes. The proposals have already been discussed with planning officers through Ealing Council's pre-application process.
Following those discussions, a number of changes have been made, including:
reducing the number of parking spaces;
increasing landscaping;
reducing areas of hardstanding;
improving apartment layouts;
refining the architectural design.
This collaborative approach helps ensure issues are identified and addressed before a planning application is submitted.
No. The building has been carefully designed to respond to its surroundings.
It sits between the recently completed Junior School and the existing Sixth Form building, both of which are substantial buildings. The proposed scale has been developed to provide an appropriate transition between these neighbouring developments while breaking the overall mass into three smaller "villa" forms.
Will the development be taller than neighbouring buildings?
Protecting neighbouring privacy has been a key design consideration throughout the project.
The building has been positioned to maintain appropriate separation distances, existing mature trees have been retained wherever possible, and detailed daylight, sunlight and overlooking assessments have informed the layout.
The proposals have been refined to minimise impacts on neighbouring properties and surrounding buildings.
Will the proposals overlook neighbouring homes?
The development will provide three resident car parking spaces, each with electric vehicle charging facilities.
This level of parking reflects the site's highly sustainable location close to public transport while encouraging more sustainable travel choices.
Secure cycle parking is also provided for residents.
What parking is proposed?
How has the design been influenced by the local area?
The design has evolved following detailed analysis of the surrounding streetscape.
Rather than replicating neighbouring buildings, the proposals take inspiration from the character of the area, responding to building heights, roof forms, materials and landscape.
The building has been designed as three connected villa-style elements to reduce its apparent scale and provide a contemporary interpretation of the surrounding architecture.
The proposals include a range of measures designed to reduce environmental impact, including:
highly insulated homes;
air source heat pumps;
permeable paving;
sustainable drainage;
electric vehicle charging;
retained landscaping;
biodiversity enhancements.
These measures will create homes that are significantly more energy efficient than the existing building.
What sustainability measures are included?
No. The site is located within Flood Zone 1, which has a low probability of flooding.
The development incorporates sustainable drainage measures, permeable paving and additional planting to help manage surface water runoff more effectively than the existing site.
Will the proposals increase flood risk?
Yes. Secure cycle parking has been designed in accordance with London Plan standards.
Private cycle lockers are provided for ground-floor homes, while additional secure cycle storage serves the remaining apartments. This encourages cycling as a practical alternative to the private car.
Will there be enough cycle parking?
Retaining mature landscaping has been an important part of the design process. Wherever possible, existing trees and planting will be retained and protected. New planting will complement these features, creating an attractive landscaped setting and supporting biodiversity.
What will happen to the existing trees?
What happens after the consultation?
All feedback received during the consultation period will be carefully reviewed by the project team.
Where appropriate, comments will help inform further refinements before a planning application is submitted to Ealing Council during the summer.
The Council will then undertake its own public consultation as part of the formal planning application process, providing a further opportunity for people to submit comments.
Dedicated refuse and recycling facilities are incorporated within the development.
These have been designed to provide convenient access for residents while allowing straightforward collection by the local authority.
How will refuse and recycling be managed?
Parents and residents will be worried about the volume of construction traffic/noise/dust/safeguarding etc., during the construction phase. How do respond?
We recognise that people will understandably want reassurance about construction traffic, noise, dust and safeguarding during the construction period. A detailed Construction Logistics Plan will therefore be put in place, with particular emphasis on protecting pupils and minimising disruption to the school. Construction deliveries and the removal of materials will be restricted to specific times between avoiding the main school arrival and departure periods. Larger vehicles will follow agreed routes using the strategic road network, operate to pre-booked time slots to prevent queuing, and all vehicle movements at the site entrance will be supervised by qualified traffic marshals. Wheel-washing and other measures will also be used to prevent mud and debris being carried onto surrounding roads.
Construction activity will be carefully managed to minimise noise, dust and disturbance, with the noisiest activities programmed during school holidays wherever practicable. A Community Relations Officer will be appointed as a direct point of contact for the school, parents and neighbouring residents, ensuring that they are kept informed about significant works and that any concerns can be raised and addressed quickly.
The site management team will regularly review traffic, safety, environmental performance and any complaints throughout construction, allowing arrangements to be adapted where necessary. We would also seek to maintain an ongoing dialogue with the school throughout the construction period, particularly where forthcoming works have the potential to affect pupils, parents or normal school operations.
We encourage everyone with an interest in the proposals to take part in the consultation.
You can:
complete the online feedback form;
contact the project team directly by email or telephone;
review the plans and supporting information available on this website.
Every comment received during the consultation period will be considered before the proposals are finalised.
How can I submit my views?