A new Local Plan, which will shape growth and development in the borough for the next 15 years, was presented at a full council meeting this week.
At the meeting on Wednesday 21 February, the council heard that the plan will guide planning decisions on homes, infrastructure, climate change, jobs, and how we can address health issues and inequalities in the borough. The Local Plan also shows what needs to be protected, conserved or enhanced such as green spaces, canals, heritage assets, shopping areas and employment space.
After various stages of public consultation between November 2021 and February 2023, all of your information and views have helped the council to draw up this latest version of the Local Plan.
It is a long-term plan and, over the next 15 years, it will drive a series of improvements informed directly by the people that live in the borough.
Some of the key benefits of the plan include important responses to issues previously raised, including a new ‘developer tax’ to fund crucial investment in the borough, ensuring that current and new infrastructure can support positive growth over the next decade. This will support crucial services like schools and GPs.
The Local Plan also aims to promote employment opportunities in the borough, so that as many people as possible have access to good, well-paid jobs.
Council leader, Peter Mason said:
“The aim of the Local Plan is to improve life for everyone across all our 7 towns. We want to a borough where residents can have access to genuinely affordable homes, good and well-paid jobs, and live in communities filled with identity and pride.
“Ealing is an amazing place to live with lots to offer, from our beautiful green spaces to unrivalled transport links and the area’s rich heritage in industry and manufacturing. With its burgeoning status as a vibrant hub for creativity, Ealing is evolving, and the Local Plan will build on that to turn it into a destination rather than a dormitory suburb.”
Councillor Shital Manro, cabinet member for good growth and housing said:
“We have always set the bar high in terms of our vision for growth in Ealing. We have gone the extra mile to engage with residents and our focus on listening to residents has paid off, evidenced by the number of responses we had to the consultation. Your feedback has directly influenced key policies in the new plan. Our plan for development is ambitious, but it needs to be so that investment in the borough is careful, sustainable and for the benefit of everyone in each of our 7 towns.”
Finding out more
The plan will be available to view on the council’s website from today, Wednesday 28 February. Regulation 19 is its official title. There will be information on the website about how you can comment. These comments are called ‘representations’ and they are the final stage of the consultation process, before the plan is sent to the Secretary of State for their independent examination.