Developer defends Leaf scheme (From Ealing Times)

Developer defends Leaf scheme

6:13pm Thursday 14th February 2008 in News By Alex Hayes

DEVELOPERS who have put together plans for a 40-storey tower in the centre of Ealing have defended the plans as a "quality scheme".

The director of Irish developers Glenkerrin made the remarks in defence of the proposals for the Arcadia centre in Ealing Broadway, after criticisms from a government watchdog.

Today the The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), released a report recommending councillors reject the proposals which they say are not "of the standard that Ealing deserves".

However Sean O'Gorman, the director of Glenkerrin, said: "We have worked closely with Ealing Council, the GLA, local businesses, Transport for London and other agencies, including CABE, for over two years now.

"It is a shame that one of these consultees feels on balance that it is unable to support our application, but I am certain that we are offering Ealing a quality scheme of high design and CABE do support many aspects of the application."

Roger Hayes, a spokesman or the company, also defended the designs saying it delivers a "major piece of urban regeneration".

He also went on to say the scheme had a number of challenges including maintaining views of the church, addressing the conservation area, transport issues and building across the railway lines.