by David Sands
Opposition from local planners has resulted in Tesco abandoning their plans to occupy a 67,000-sq ft superstore at the Hoover building site on Western Avenue, Ealing, W3.
The planning application, made jointly with the building’s owners, Mountleigh Group, was withdrawn shortly before a report unfavourable to the scheme was to have been put before an Ealing planning committee. The proposals also included the creation of 40,000 sq ft of business space next to the Art Deco building which was designed by Wallace-Gilbert.
It is believed that Mountleigh are now marketing the site and may be at advanced stages of negotiation with a buyer. Local rumours name the St James consortium as the possible purchasers.
The report to Ealing council highlighted an unacceptable scale of demolition and alteration to the listed building.
As well as causing traffic problems in the area, the scheme, it was claimed, would adversely affect nearby shops and stores in the Greenford area and involved the demolition of homes.
The site has been designated by the council as a “major employment location” and at the time of the planning application being lodged a spokesman said: “We would expect to obtain major employment uses by way of an industrial development.”
Tesco would not comment on any future involvement they may have with the building.
