Ealing Council has at last started moves to allow it to compulsorily purchase (CPO) the derelict site opposite the Town Hall, so that Land Securities can go ahead with their outline plan for the wider area down as far as Mattock Lane. This was just as Empire Cinemas announced that they had restarted their work, after they secured new finance.
This means that there are now two potential developments, which both have planning approval. Only one scheme can go ahead - but which one?
No-one really knows, but it’s certain that if the Council’s CPO is to succeed, it has to show that there is a “compelling case in the public interest” which would justify Empire being forced to sell its site. CEPAC’s view is that the LandSecs scheme will need to provide more benefit to the community and more cultural facilities than are in its present plan, for the Council to win its case at an inquiry.
CEPAC believes our concept of a multi-purpose performance space in central Ealing, available to the whole community, would help it to do this. We will be pressing the argument for it to be included in a wider comprehensive scheme.
This means that there are now two potential developments, which both have planning approval. Only one scheme can go ahead - but which one?
No-one really knows, but it’s certain that if the Council’s CPO is to succeed, it has to show that there is a “compelling case in the public interest” which would justify Empire being forced to sell its site. CEPAC’s view is that the LandSecs scheme will need to provide more benefit to the community and more cultural facilities than are in its present plan, for the Council to win its case at an inquiry.
CEPAC believes our concept of a multi-purpose performance space in central Ealing, available to the whole community, would help it to do this. We will be pressing the argument for it to be included in a wider comprehensive scheme.
RSS Feed
