The Planning and Regeneration Committee of the London Assembly is carrying out a piece of work on on Tall Buildings in London.
This ‘investigation’ will consider the current stock of homes in London’s tall buildings and how they impact residents. It will examine:
- the current demographics of residents of tall buildings (who is being served by this building typology).
- the attitudes and experiences of residents in tall buildings.
- how tall building policy should be considered in the future London Plan.
- the attitudes and experiences of residents in tall buildings.
The committee issued a ‘call for evidence’ with a deadline of March 4th. OONF has submitted a paper which can be read/downloaded below. This focuses on North Acton as an example of how a major new cluster of tall buildings can emerge in London in relatively unplanned way.
From 2015 onwards the OPDC became the planning authority for North Acton. But decisions on major planning applications were delegated back to Ealing Council. Until the OPDC Local Plan was adopted in 2022 there was something of a vacuum in relation to up to date planning polices applying to North Acton. ‘Developer-led’ proposals have had a huge impact.
The location has seen a major expansion in numbers of student bedspaces granted planning consent. Two more major schemes involving towers of 54 storeys and above have yet to start construction (the Imperial College proposals for One Portal Way and the ‘twin towers’ from Aldau Development at 4 Portal Way.
North Acton now has an unusual demographic and a physical environment that many feel is far from a successful example or urban renewal.
The organisation Ealing Matters has also submitted evidence, on the spate of tall buildings developed across the Borough in the past decade.