Ealing worried developers ‘hesitating’ due to Crossrail delays
The leader of Ealing council has spoken out about delays to Crossrail, arguing it has caused developers to “hesitate” before committing to the area.
Julian Bell said he was still waiting for a construction schedule for three proposed Crossrail stations in the borough: Ealing Broadway, West Ealing and Acton Main Line.
Crossrail is due to open to passengers between October 2020 and March 2021, about two years later than originally planned. In Ealing, the Elizabeth line will serve five stations.
The leader of Ealing council has spoken out about delays to Crossrail, arguing it has caused developers to “hesitate” before committing to the area.
Julian Bell said he was still waiting for a construction schedule for three proposed Crossrail stations in the borough: Ealing Broadway, West Ealing and Acton Main Line.
Crossrail is due to open to passengers between October 2020 and March 2021, about two years later than originally planned. In Ealing, the Elizabeth line will serve five stations.
“We are waiting for the actual construction schedules,” Bell said.
“I want to see on paper how they are going to do that. I am somewhat sceptical given the performance so far. We were promised stations by the end of 2016.
“Obviously we are not happy about the delay. That and Brexit have caused people to hesitate before they make commitments. On other hand, I think developers still see Ealing as a place to invest.”
Ealing councillor Joy Morrissey added: “This has really actually hurt us in terms of real estate in Ealing.
“Everything hinges on Crossrail, we are so dependent on it for [Berkeley’s] Southhall Gas Works and everything. Having that delay has been quite detrimental to all of Ealing. All our big developments were hinging around Crossrail coming in.”
Berkeley is redeveloping the 88-acre former Southall Gas Works to deliver 3,750 new homes over more than 20 years. The site includes 500,000 sq ft of commercial space, a cinema, a school and health centre.
‘Nifty financial footwork’
Network Rail has allegedly ringfenced £70m towards the construction of two new stations – West Ealing and Acton Mainline – and a significant remodelling of Ealing Broadway, according to Bell.
He said: “I’ve been told via different channels that funding issues for the stations have been resolved.
“I was given a £70m figure from Network Rail and apparently this is now possible due to a ‘piece of nifty financial footwork’. That was how it was described to me. The funding issue was related to Network Rail’s overspend on the electrification of the Great Western mainline railway.”
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Contracts for the main construction works at these stations (Acton Main Line, Hayes & Harlington, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway, Southall and West Drayton) have been let and all of the required funding is in place for the remaining work.”
Other developers hoping to benefit from Crossrail in Ealing include Montreaux, which secured permission for its 2,000-home redevelopment plans in the area in March.
Located adjacent to the new Crossrail station planned for Southall, the 2m sq ft scheme will include more than 200,000 sq ft of flexible employment, community and retail space, a hotel, public green spaces and squares.
And as part of its partnership with Transport for London, Grainger is expected to deliver 400 homes in Southall.
Going forward, Savills estimates that more than 3,000 residential units will come to market in Ealing over the five years to 2023. Of the known schemes, only six have currently completed construction, with a further 11 currently under construction and 15 with full planning permission.
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