A PROPOSED major property development in central Ealing received a boost this week after an "important" decision by the council to sell land behind the Town Hall.

Councillors agreed to sell the 250-year lease of the land to developer St George, which is proposing to build 700 residential units and create space for 20 shops on the site, known as Dickens Yard.

The decision to sell off the car park and council annex paves the way for St George to apply for planning permission for the project.

An application is expected early in the new year.

Councillor Jason Stacey, leader of Ealing Council, said: "This is a really important moment. It is the end of years of negotiations that were started by the previous administration and once this goes through we will become the planning authority for the project.

"If the Dickens Yard project is passed, it will provide much-needed regeneration for the centre of Ealing."

English Heritage has already objected to the initial plans produced by St George, and Transport for London (TfL) has said a car park study will need to be done before it will ratify the proposals for 586 parking space.

TfL has also said it will seek a contribution from section 106 money, which is paid by developers to fund schemes near their projects, to help improve the flow of buses around Ealing Broadway.

Councillor David Millican, the man in charge of regeneration and housing, welcomed the sale, which is the culmination of three years of negotiations between the council and St George.

He said: "This is something that has been going on for years, it was introduced by the Labour group when they were still in power.

"Our next step now is to become the planning authority, which will happen once St George submits its application.

"In terms of section 106 money, we will be looking for a good settlement and best value for the residents of the borough, but that is something for the planning committee."

The sale of the site is dependent on agreement being reached with the London Diocesan fund to get some land from Christ the Saviour church in order to create the new town square.