Improving Acton Town Centre

ImprovingActon Town

CentreStrategy 2002-2012

“In 10 years, Acton Town Centre will be a thriving,multi-cultural community, with a clear identity and

sense of belonging, where all residents and businessesare able to benefit from the opportunities arising from

it’s West London location.”

Improving Acton Town Centre – Strategy 2002-2012

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Contents1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………2

2. ACTON TOWN CENTRE TODAY……………………………………………..3What are the boundaries of the town centre?……………………...…………………………………………….3

What Acton has to offer:……………………………...……………………………………………………………...3

The existing policy context………………………….……………………………………………………………....6

The challenges currently facing the centre…………………………………………………..…………………..7

3. ACTON TOWN CENTRE TOMORROW……………...………………………9The way forward for Acton…………………………………………………………………………………………..9

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats……………………………………………………………..10

Towards a strategy………………………………………………………………………..…………………………12

Strategy tensions…………………………………………………………………………….………………………13

4. THE IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY – OBJECTIVES & ACTION POINTS.14Investment…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….15

Transport……………………………………………………….……………………………………………………..17

Environment………………………………………………………………………………………………………….18

Organisation & Delivery…………………………………………………..………………………………………..19

5. CONSULTATION & FURTHER INFORMATION……………………………20

6. APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………...21Appendix 1: Extract From “A Strategy for Acton”…………………………………………………………..……22Appendix 2: Acton Town Centre Research & Consultants’ Reports…………………………………………..23Appendix 3: A Comparison of Acton with Greenford & Southall Town Centres……………………...……...24Appendix 4: Potential Development Sites…………………………………………………………………….….27Appendix 5: Acton District Centre Health Check………………………………………………………………..36Appendix 6: GLA’s Classification of Town Centres in Greater London…………………………..…………..40Appendix 7: Public Town Centre Car Parking 2001…………………………………………………………….41Appendix 8: Extract from Acton Area Transport Strategy………………………………………………………42Appendix 9: West London Tram…………………………………………..………………………………………45Appendix 10: Acton Town Centre Strategy Map & Summary Action Points………………………………….47



1. IntroductionVISION: “In 10 years, Acton Town Centre will be a thriving, multi-cultural community,with a clear identity and sense of belonging, where all residents and businesses are

able to benefit from the opportunities arising from it’s West London location”

This document sets out our vision for Acton Town centre for the next ten years. It draws on thedocument “A Strategy for Acton”1 which sets out 5 objectives and 8 goals for Ealing Council andAction Acton regeneration partnership as a whole (see appendix 1).

Based on the goals identified in the strategy, it looks at Acton from four perspectives. These are:

• Investment - Who is investing in the town centre? What is the range of services? Is this theright range of uses? What new investment can we bring into Acton?

• Transport - How do shoppers get to Acton Town centre? Is there enough parking and servicingfor traders? What future transport projects will affect Acton?

• Environment - What can be done to improve the state of the buildings, streets and openspaces?

• Organisation and Delivery - What is being done to make sure the town centre meets the needsof local residents and traders? Who is managing the town centre? What money is available forcarrying out this work?

The strategy sets out clear action points for Acton with section 4 detailing specific projects to deliverthe strategy. It sets out a vision for the future of Acton based on the following objectives.

Investment1. To improve the quality and range of shops, businesses and restaurants in the town centre.2. To develop a distinct character providing more choice and employment.3. To develop Acton’s potential as a centre for the arts, media and the local community

Access/ transport4. To make it easier for people to walk, cycle or travel by public transport to Acton town centre.5. To take steps to manage traffic congestion and pollution

Environment6. To make Acton a more attractive place in which to live, shop, dine and do business.

Organisation & Delivery7. To develop a partnership between the Council, Action Acton, businesses and local people to

manage the town centre.8. To identify and secure long term funding for the town centre.

Action Acton and Ealing Council are keen to involve local businesses, community groups, localpeople and other stakeholders in both the ongoing development and delivery of this strategy. If youhave any comments or would like to become involved, please contact Action Acton or EalingCouncil (see section 6 for further details).

1 “A Strategy for Acton” DTZ Pieda



2. Acton Town Centre TodayWhat are the boundaries of the town centre?

The boundaries of the town centre extend from the junction of the Uxbridge Road at TwyfordCrescent in the west to the railway bridge by Acton Central Station in the east. The town centrealso includes Churchfield Road, the shops at Market Place and Horn Lane and, south of theUxbridge Road, a number of streets extending from Gunnersbury Lane in the west to Acton Lane inthe east are included. This is the policy boundary deemed to make up the Town Centre, and thefocus of the town centre strategy, although it will also need to consider the main approaches to thetown centre as well as local issues outside the town centre that will have an impact on Acton’sfuture prosperity.

Figure 1: Acton Town Centre boundaries

What Acton has to offer:Acton is a District Centre as defined by the GLA. It comprises 236 shops with a floorspace of32,140 sq m (information taken from GOAD). Its total floorspace is around 47,000 sq m if othernon-shopping uses are included. Acton is therefore smaller than Southall, designated as a majorcentre, but larger than Greenford, which is another district centre. A comparison of the range ofuses between Acton, Southall and Greenford as well as at a national level is shown at Appendix 3.

• Shopping facilities - the town centre’s strengths are as a centre for convenience goodsshopping (e.g. supermarkets, butchers, and independently owned grocers). It has 8 banks andbuilding societies, a local credit union and two High Street chemists (Superdrug and Boots theChemist). It does poorly with regard to comparison goods shopping (clothes, electricals, toys,jewellers). 15% of residents consider there is a good variety of shops and 21% of residents likethe shops in Acton2

• Places to eat and drink - Acton has a higher proportion of cafés and fast food outletscompared to other town centres (19 percent of outlets are classified as restaurants, cafes or fast

2 DTZ Pieda MORI residents' survey April 2001 (300 Acton households)

Crown copyright. All rights reserved. LB Ealing Licence No 086355 2003



food related shops compared with a Great Britain average of 11.48%). It is well served withpubs and clubs (16). It has a limited restaurant scene but with an interesting range of cuisinesincluding Lebanese, Russian, modern British, Chinese, Korean, Thai and Indian.

• Transport - Acton town centre is served by 8 bus routes including the express 607 route linkingUxbridge with Shepherds Bush. Acton Central station is just to the north of the town centreproviding links to Stratford, Camden and Richmond. Acton Town is located 10 minutes walk tothe south of the town centre with tube links to Heathrow, Hammersmith and central London(District and Piccadilly line). The town centre has benefited from a recent £500,000 programmeto encourage more people to walk or cycle to leisure facilities. 81% of residents who come toshop in Acton arrive on foot, by bus or by bicycle3.

• Parking provision - there are 129 publicly accessible car parking places at Churchfield Roadand Salisbury Street where parking charges are low compared to other centres in London (itcosts 50p per hour in our car parks). There are a further 402 spaces at Safeways and The Oaksshopping centre and Stop and Shop facilities on Churchfield Road and Crown Street. 93% ofresidents who use a car to come to Acton say that parking provision is adequate. Followinglocal consultation the Council has also recently agreed to introduce a controlled parking zone inmost of the streets off the high street. This will operate from Monday to Friday, 09.30-1730 andshould be operational by the summer of 2003.

• Community facilities - the town centre has a high concentration of community facilities in andaround the town centre. (eg, churches, outreach work, Church Road health centre, library withIT training facilities, Acton Baths, Twyford and Reynolds Leisure Centres, private leisurefacilities eg Virgin Active – Bromyard, Park Leisure club and college based leisure provision). Aseries of projects have been set up in the town centre to benefit local people and businesses.These range from educational projects (e.g. City Learning Centre at Acton High, and more adulteducation at Hammersmith & West London College) to support for the credit union onBerrymead Gardens and business and careers advice at public buildings in Acton Town Centre.Plans are being developed by the Council to refurbish Acton Town Hall too for community andother uses, possibly encompassing other buildings in public ownership in the town centre.

• Environment and open space - the town centre has the highest cluster of historic buildings inthe borough. The Acton Town Centre Conservation Area covers a large proportion of the towncentre in recognition of the quality of the built environment. There is parkland to the south(Woodlands) and areas of green space to the west and east of Acton town centre at Acton Parkand Twyford Crescent. A number of recent developments in the town centre on vacant sitesincluding the former Co-op site (Puzzle Bar pub and 50 homes), and residential infill at 20 to 34Horn Lane has seen the regeneration of long vacant land.

Figure 2: Acton Town Hall of historic interest

3 DTZ Pieda MORI residents' survey April 2001



• Jobs - the town centre employs an estimated 1800 people4

• Population – Acton has a higher percentage of single person households without dependentchildren (37%) than the Borough of Ealing as a whole (30%) while 49% of households in Actondo not have access to a car compared to 37% in Ealing as a whole

4 estimated from DTZ Pieda Business Survey (March-April 2001 - interview of 24 businesses in town centre, and 22 businesseselsewhere in Acton)



The Existing Policy Context

This Town Centre Strategy for Acton has to take into account national, regional and local policieson town centres.

National PolicyGovernment policy towards towns and cities has changed significantly over recent years. At theheart of this approach is the aim of achieving an “urban renaissance”. The Government’s UrbanWhite Paper recommends reinforcing the role of town centres and the need to maintain their vitalityand viability as attractive, safe and economically active places.

The Modernising Local Government Finance Green Paper (November 2000) identified the potentialrole of supplementary business rates and associated improvement areas to promote betterbusiness environments similar to Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in the United States ofAmerica. The subsequent White Paper (December 2001) and draft Bill has set out the necessarylegislation to establish BIDs in the United Kingdom. It is anticipated that this will be in place in theUK by March 2004.

Clearly BIDs may provide an opportunity for generating additional resources to support themanagement and maintenance of town centres such as Acton. A number of pilot schemes arebeing established across the country to assess the effectiveness of the concept in Britain. Theresults of these pilots and their implications for Acton will be carefully assessed.

Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) note 6 sets out the Government’s policies on town centre andretail development planning. Local planning authorities must take the content of all PPGs intoaccount in preparing their development plans.

Specifically, PPG 6 supports the development of town centre strategies. It states that in partnershipwith the private sector, property owners, infrastructure agencies and the community, the localplanning authority should:- assess the role of the town centre and the scope for change, renewal and diversification;- identify the essential qualities of the centre and seek to ensure that it meets the needsof the community it serves; and- draw up a strategy and action plan for the centre.

The strategy can be prepared at any time, but should be translated into the development plan at thefirst opportunity.

Local PolicyGreater London Authority: The draft London PlanThe London Plan sets out the strategic planning guidance London. It supports town centres bypromoting access to goods and services and strengthening the wider role of town centres bysupporting and encouraging town centre management, partnerships and strategies including theintroduction of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in appropriate locations.

Specifically, it identifies Acton as a district centre with surplus capacity to enable it to benefit thelocal community and contribute to the regeneration of the wider area. It recognises that developingthe capacity of district centres for convenience shopping is critical to ensure access to goods andservices at the local level.

Plan for the Environment: London Borough of EalingEaling’s Unitary Development Plan (UDP) provides a framework for dealing with propertydevelopment and transport over the plan period, and sets out policies and proposals on how theborough should develop over a ten to fifteen year period.

Shopping and Town Centre policies form a key part of Ealing’s UDP, which attempt to meet therange of needs of the community as a whole whilst maintaining and enhancing the vitality andviability of the Borough’s centres.



Where appropriate, the policies contained within the UDP are clarified and amplified bySupplementary Guidance. The guidance may bring together planning and other considerationswhich need to be taken into account by people proposing development or affected by development.In so far as the guidance is subject to planning control, it has the legal status of a ‘materialconsideration’, which the local planning authority is entitled to take into account in makingconsiderations. This Town Centre Strategy forms Supplementary Planning Guidance to the UDP.



The challenges currently facing the Centre

Acton clearly faces many challenges. These include:

• Vacant units - Acton's retail vacancy rate of 15%5 is 5% higher than the UK average yetcommercial rents have been rising for businesses locally, reflecting years of economic growth inWest London.

• Consumer dissatisfaction - There appears to be more dissatisfaction with Acton Town Centrethan satisfaction. DTZ Pieda interviewed 300 households and 55 business in spring 2000. Fromthis, it is clear that local people think Acton has a poor image, with a poor environmentespecially in terms of litter, and traffic congestion. Businesses and residents also agree thatthere is a need to improve the variety and quality of shops, improve the appearance and generalmaintenance of the town centre. Given the low quality of retail facilities, many higher incomeresidents do not shop in Acton but prefer the larger centres of Ealing and Shepherds Bush.Local businesses are asking for more parking provision6, although only 2% of residents considerthat there is insufficient parking space in the centre.

• Evening economy - Acton’s nightlife is good for the economy. The Redback, the Red Lion andPineapple and the Kings Head have all won the borough's Responsible Host awards over thethe past few years. Nonetheless, Acton needs to make sure that this night time economy is wellmanaged and does not adversely affect the quality of life for local people.

• Street environment - Acton's street and pedestrian environment is tired, below standard andonce improved, needs better maintenance.

• Transport - Few shops on the High Street have rear servicing. The town centre suffers fromcongestion at key points within the town centre (e.g. outside McDonalds) and at all approachesto the town centre.

• Respecting the character of the area - Much of the town centre is designated a ConservationArea. However this area still has a large amount of graffiti and unauthorised advertisementhoardings.

Figure 3: Example of the graffiti problem within the town centre

• Street crime and antisocial behaviour - Acton has a disproportionate amount of disorderoffences (41% of the borough). Street crime on the High Street is a local problem too as is therate of youth robberies against other youth. There was a 15% increase in the number ofdisturbances in a public place over the period 1998 to 2000. Acton has a very visible street-drinking problem in parts of the town centre. In an effort to address street crime and inresponse to public demand, CCTV cameras were introduced into the town centre in January2002.

5 Goad Survey October 20006 DTZ Pieda business survey March - April 2001



3. Acton Town Centre TomorrowThe way forward for Acton

Before embarking on a strategy, it is worth considering future trends that are likely to impact onActon.

TransportThe Mayor of London has decided to develop the West London Tram scheme, which would improveaccess to Acton town centre. To ensure a reliable service, the tram would require priority use of theroad space within the town centre and a comprehensive traffic management strategy will be neededto minimise potential displacement to surrounding roads. Careful attention will also be paid to localaccess and servicing arrangements. A lower volume of through traffic will create opportunities forenvironmental improvements in the High Street. Transport for London and the Council are currentlyworking together to develop a scheme which achieves the best possible balance between thediffering uses of the town centre.

Increasing competitionCB Hillier Parker forecast that convenience goods spending in the Ealing borough catchment areawill increase by 7.6% in real terms over the next 10 years period and durable goods spend willincrease by 58%. As Acton's strength is in convenience goods shopping, it is not likely to grow asstrongly as centres with strengths in these other areas. The challenge to Acton is that it will notbenefit from this increase in spending to the extent that other town centres can. It will need toconsider how it can improve the quality of its existing shops and enhance its other existingattractions including its restaurants and community facilities.

E-commerceThe growth of the use of the Internet to purchase certain services such as insurance, travel, CDsetc will impact on such shops in town centres. The effect on town centres with large number ofthese shops will be significant. The effect on town centres with fewer such shops such as Actonmay not be so significant. It is considered that larger centres, with a mixture of shops and leisurefacilities, will not be significantly affected by the growth in e-commerce.



Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats

How is Acton geared up to tackle these future challenges? What are Acton town centre’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats? A ‘SWOT’analysis is a useful way of providing a clear picture of our starting point. The strategy must address the weaknesses and threats, as well as build onthe centre’s strengths and opportunities having regard to the four themes in this programme.

Strengths Weaknesses Threats OpportunitiesInvestment • Recent infill of development sites in

town centre• Invest in Acton project encouraging

inward investment• Multicultural community• Town Centre very close to non-

retail business in The Vale andSouth Acton

• Close to Park Royal and centralLondon)

• Good cluster of school andeducational facilities (Acton & WestLondon College).

• Acton High School IT investmentprogramme

• Range of sporting facilities withplans for upgrading

• Developing evening economy• Strong sense of local community

expressed in events such as theActon Carnival

• Transport museum at Acton Townstation

• 15% vacancy rates• Poor range of comparison

shopping• Shop unit size and quality not

suited to major retailers• Little recent commercial investment

in town centre• Quality of environment perpetuates

poor image to investors• Narrow range of arts/ community

facilities• Night time activity generally aimed

at young people only• Poor range of national multiples• Acton’s population is ageing,

compared to the other parts ofBorough with implications for retailspend

• Potential disinvestment from majorretailers/ banks

• Investment in surrounding towncentres could make Acton evenless attractive for national retailers

• Internet shopping could harmexisting food retailers/ travelagents

• Several underused and vacantsites for possible development(Acton Town Hall, BeechworthHouse, Horn Lane, ChurchfieldRoad)

• Strong demand for new residentialuse as part of mixeddevelopments

• Potential to develop the Arts• Potential to bid to the LDA’s single

pot• Potential to develop “the food and

restaurants” on offer• Potential to develop the evening

economy• Potential to develop multi-

culturalism



Strengths Weaknesses Threats OpportunitiesAccess/transport

• Good orbital bus links (H40, E3,266) and radial links (207/607)• 533 off street car parking spaces intown centre.• Investment in cycling improvements• Low car use among local peopleusing Acton town centre

• Traffic congestion caused bythrough traffic

• Extended linear nature of towncentre makes pedestrianmovement difficult

• Poor access to BR and tubestations

• Key development sites with poorpublic transport

• Poor access for people withphysical disabilities

• Poor air quality caused by heavytraffic and canyon effect ofenclosed shops

• Inadequate servicing for retailerson non-core frontages in towncentre

• West London Tram could restrictcar movements and causesubstantial upheaval duringconstruction and on completion.

• West London Tram

Environ-ment

• Distinctive character/ historicbuildings

• Mixed, vibrant, multi-culturalcommunity

• Investment in CCTV and otherstreet crime issues (shopfrontimprovements)

• Partnership work

• Poor quality of streetscape andbuildings

• Poorly lit car parking• Inadequate street cleansing

• Perception or fear of street crimehigh

• Acton focussed SRB funded crimeprojects ended

• Crime prevention projects largelyreliant on SRB grant funding

• Unsociable behaviourconcentrated on nodes within thecentre

• Boroughwide crime projects beingdeveloped and/or underway

• Opportunities to improve the publicrealm

Town CentreManage-ment andPartnership

• Strong sense of local loyalty toActon

• Established town centre task group• Funding for improvements to town

centre (crime prevention,environmental improvements) inplace

• No large private sector contributorsto fund

• SRB funding will end in 2004 • Potential for town centre forum todevelop new funding initiativesincluding feasibility of establishingBusiness Improvement District



Towards a strategy

The SWOT analysis and other research work identifies the three main issues facing Acton TownCentre are:

• Limited quality and range of shops• Poor environment• Traffic congestion

In addition, increased competition through the growth of the use of the Internet, and increasingsophistication among shoppers, will serve to make town centres compete with one another evenmore fiercely in terms of convenience, quality and ease of access. This mitigates against Acton,which does not start in a good position and whose attractiveness for main food shopping willdecrease with time.

Acton does however have a number of strengths, which it needs to build on. These include itsstrong convenience role, a large range of cafes and restaurants, specialist food retailers, and thenight-time economy.

As the Acton Strategy states “it is unrealistic to expect Acton to compete directly with larger nearbycentres and such a strategy would be unsustainable in terms of traffic movements. But isreasonable to promote the town centre to fill a market niche with attractive retail and housing.”

Given this background, it is suggested that any strategy for Acton Town Centre focuses on helpingActon fill a market niche. It would recognise Acton’s existing strength as a convenient shoppingcentre, but would seek to improve on its unfulfilled potential especially in the area of eating out andarts/community activities.

To assist in attracting investment to Acton, it is suggested that the town centre be enhancedthrough the promotion of geographical areas. Uses in these areas will be supported subject to themanagement of the related environmental and amenity effects associated with such uses.

• Evening Economy area – focussed around the High Street/King Street• Restaurants/Cafes & Niche shopping area – focussed around Churchfield Road• Community, Arts & Media area – focussed around a redeveloped Town Hall• Convenience shopping area – focussed around the High Street & The Oaks Shopping

Centre



Figure 4: Proposed Town Centre Areas

Strategy tensions

There are inevitably some conflicts in this proposed strategy including planning policy restrictions,including designated shop frontages, which would need to be taken into account.

• Restricting the car – Acton is congested, and traffic and pollution contribute to the poor imageof the town centre. However, it is important to strike the right balance making the town centreas accessible as possible while restricting car use to improve the town centre environment. Thisplan promotes access to Acton by bus, on foot and by bike. However, the strategy accepts thecase for maintaining car access to the town centre. The proposals to introduce a ControlledParking Zone will help to reduce long-term parking and promote short-term parking in the towncentre.

• Improving the quality and range of shops - It is accepted that there is little potential for majornew shopping floorspace, but there is a need to improve the range of shops in the town centre.However, the size and quality of existing retail units may not appeal to new national retailers.

• Evening Economy/restaurant uses – this plan promotes the evening economy offer in Acton.However, encouraging more restaurants, bars and cafés can have adverse impacts for localpeople and especially if more housing is encouraged in the town centre.

The next section expresses these objectives as a series of actions linked to Key PerformanceIndicators (KPIs). These objectives and actions will be reviewed annually by the Town CentrePartnership. The key diagram (appendix 9) sets out these actions in a geographical context.




4. The Improvement Strategy – Objectives & Action Points

The strategy has eight objectives.

Investment1. To improve the quality and range of shops, businesses and restaurants in the town centre.2. To develop a distinct character providing more choice and employment.3. To develop Acton’s potential as a centre for the arts, media and the local community

Access/ transport4. To make it easier for people to walk, cycle or travel by public transport to Acton town centre.5. To take steps to manage traffic congestion and pollution

Environment6. To make Acton a more attractive place in which to live, shop, dine and do business.

Organisation & Delivery7. To develop a partnership between the Council, Action Acton, businesses and local people

to manage the town centre.8. To identify and secure long term funding for the town centre.

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Investment

Objectives & Goals

1. To improve the quality and range of shops, businesses and restaurants in the town centre

Action points• Contribute to review of UDP planning policies; review extent of frontage to encourage more non-

retail uses• Produce a development opportunities schedule of vacant sites in the town centre – see

appendix 4 for list of development sites• Approach landowners and secure regeneration/redevelopment of vacant sites• Develop contacts with local and West End commercial agents• Establish a vacant property database• Investigate regular road closure of Churchfield Road for community events and activities such

as car free day.• Investigate festivals/events both in relation to road closure and separately e.g. restaurant

festival,• Promote existing street stall locations; Identify further locations for street stalls and apply for

street trading licences as appropriate• Investigate and develop potential for “Living over the Shop” Initiatives• Set up a suppliers’ network linking Acton businesses with purchasers in West London• Promote Acton as a place to eat in through e.g. establishment of restaurant network and

development of promotional events and material such as a restaurant guide• Revise Acton business directory• Promote membership of LB Ealing’s responsible Host Scheme amongst local pubs and clubs

Key Performance Indicators• vacancy rates• number of businesses/restaurants in the area• public perception of the range of shops/restaurants

2. To develop a distinct character providing more choice and employment

Action points• Assess feasibility of a weekly market including a farmers market for Acton, and one off events

such as a Christmas market• Develop relevant material to promote Acton Town Centre as a retail/business location• Work with local businesses/retailers to identify business and training needs & develop relevant

support packages based on this work• Develop customer service programme for local business

Key Performance Indicators• employment rates• public perception

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3. To develop Acton’s potential as a centre for the arts, media and the local community

Action points• Progress proposals for Town Hall development• Promote and support the arts & media offer through the West London Media Strategy and the

Cultural Strategy• Work with ACAVA and other arts related organisations to develop the arts potential

Key performance Indicator• To secure the refurbishment of Acton Town Hall for community, media, arts and residential use



Transport

Objectives & Goals

4. To make it easier for people to walk, cycle or come by public transport to Acton TownCentre.

Action Points• Carry out a pedestrian service provision audit, which will consider such things as safety

improvements to existing pedestrian crossings, more pedestrian crossings, improved pavingsurfaces, lighting and signage.

• Carry out a cyclist service provision audit, which will consider such things as safetyimprovements to existing lanes, new routes and improved facilities such as cycle racks.

• Work with LBE Transport Services to identify projects and initiatives, which will deliver theimprovements through the audits and deliver them through the Acton Area Transport Strategyand the budgetary process.

• We will assess the impact of the West London Tram proposals on the town centre and work withTransport for London to maximise the benefits to Acton.

• Assess the Groundwork West London ‘Access to Transport’ scheme and identify how we canassist in its delivery.

Key Performance Indicator• Completion of audits.• Improvements identified in the audits carried out or included in the Transport Strategy and

budget process.• Report, with recommendations, to Transport for London on the impact of the West London Tram

proposals.• Report to the Local Economy and Town Centre Task Group on how the Groundwork West

London ‘Access to Transport’ scheme could be supported.

5. To take steps to manage traffic congestion and pollution

Action points• Investigate methods to provide public transport proposals linking town centre with surrounding

stations; Lobby Transport for London where necessary• Monitor the implementation of proposed Controlled Parking Zones.

Key Performance Indicators• Reduce through traffic by up to 20%

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Environment

Objectives & Goals

6. To make Acton a more attractive place to shop, dine, live in and do business

Action Points• Complete upgrade of shops in town centre with Conservation Area Partnership funding• Review the Shop Front Improvement Scheme• Improve approaches to Acton Town centre• Upgrade Woodlands Park• To promote increased tree and shrub plantings also encouraging landowners to retain and plant

more trees and shrubs• To promote anti graffiti initiatives in the town centre• Continue to work with a range of agencies to progress actions under the Street drinkers’ project • Street Furniture Improvements - Remove street clutter; replace bins, benches etc in agreed

livery• Identify and develop proposals for improvement of “public spaces” within the town centre e.g.

a) simplify and improve the public realm around Safeway’s and StMary’s Churchb) Extend public realm east of King Street and create new “place” at junction

• Work with Groundwork West London to investigate potential for joint working• Upgrade street lighting in Uxbridge Road and Churchfield Road• Develop public art project on Railway bridge• Develop public art project at rear of Oaks Shopping centre• Work with ACAVA to identify potential for further public art initiatives in the town centre e.g. town

centre artist, exhibitions in vacant premises• Investigate cost and feasibility of illuminating significant buildings within the town centre• Work with LB Ealing Community Safety team and Police to investigate and promote crime

prevention and related initiatives in the town centre• Reduce the amount of litter and build up of refuse in the town centre

Key performance Indicators• Public perception of crime and safety• Public perception of range of shops• Public perception of environment• Number of new rubbish bins

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Organisation & Delivery

Objectives & Goals

7. To develop a partnership between the Council, Action Acton, businesses and local peopleto manage the town centre

Action plan• work with the Business Forum, Town Centre and Local economy Task group (and any

successor) to identify and prioritise town centre actions.• To monitor/measure the delivery of strategy objectives.

Key Performance Indicators• Establishment of town centre partnership

8. To identify and secure long term funding for the town centre

Action plan• Consider the possibilities of establishing a town centre trust to maintain town centre

management function in Acton• investigate the feasibility of establishing a Business Improvement District in Acton• encourage inward investing developers to contribute towards a town centre improvements

programme through section 106 agreements• to produce a business plan to review and monitor the performance and delivery of strategy

objectives

Key Performance Indicators• Establishment of town centre partnership

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4. Consultation and Further Information

Action Acton and the Council want YOUR views on these proposals for the town centre so that afinal strategy can be agreed. Consultation with town centre stakeholders will take place over thenext few months.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please contact :

Action Acton: David SklairDevelopment ManagerAction Acton16- 18 Crown StreetActonLondonW3 8SBTel: 020 8993 9605Email: [email protected]

Ealing Council: Steve BreenTourism & Town Centres Regeneration Co-ordinatorRegeneration & Major ProjectsLondon Borough of Ealing3rd Floor NW, Perceval House14/16 Uxbridge RoadEalingLondon W5 2HLTel: 020 8825 9036Email: [email protected]



Appendices

Appendix 1: Extract from “A Strategy for Acton”

Appendix 2: List of Acton Town Centre Research and Consultants’ Reports

Appendix 3: A comparison of Acton with Greenford & Southall Town Centres

Appendix 4: Potential Development Sites

Appendix 5: Acton District Centre Health Check 2000

Appendix 6: Definition of the Shopping Hierarchy

Appendix 7: Public Town Centre Car Parking 2001

Appendix 8: Extract from Acton Area Transport Strategy

Appendix 9: West London Tram

Appendix 10: Acton Town Centre Strategy Map & Summary Action Points



Appendix 1: Extract From “A Strategy for Acton”

The document “A Strategy for Acton” sets out the objectives and goals for the Action Actonregeneration partnership.

The purpose of the strategy is “to promote Acton as a thriving, multi –cultural community, which hasa clear identity and sense of belonging, where all residents and businesses are able to benefit formthe opportunities arising from its West London location”.

To achieve a thriving Acton, the Strategy identifies five objectives and eight goals. These are:

Objectives

• Ensuring social inclusion of all individuals in Acton• Involving the community in planning for and bringing about the regeneration of Acton• Improving and strengthening the links between Acton and the rest of West London to secure

opportunities for local residents and businesses• Improving and maintaining the attractiveness of all Acton’s neighbourhoods• Developing the town centre as the focal point serving the economic, social and cultural needs of

the local community

Goals

Jobs and people: To help local people to participate fully in the local and wider economy byovercoming barriers to learning and employment

Safety and Community: To help residents make their local neighbourhoods safer and participatein community activities and share responsibility for decision making

Organisation and Delivery: To ensure co-ordination between organisations and the community atthe Acton level for the efficient and effective

Decent Services: To secure an overall improvement in the quality and standard of servicesdelivered to local people with the particular aim of overcoming local inequality and disadvantage.

Business Support: To improve conditions in which enterprise can thrive by developing supportnetworks for the business that will help strengthen the local economy and create jobs

Investment: To work in partnership to create confidence and favourable conditions for furtherpublic and private sector investment in Acton

Housing: To help provide a mix of good quality housing which is affordable and accessibleresidents

Transport and Environment: To reduce traffic congestion through promoting alternatives to thecar for travelling through and around Acton and through enhancing local environments



Appendix 2: List of Acton Town Centre Research & Consultants’ Reports

"From the Margins to the Mainstream" - Action Acton SRB bid April 1999

Inward Investment Strategy Development, West London Inward |July 2000

Acton Area Transport Strategy

Ealing Crime and Disorder Audit Spring 1999

Acton Town Hall Feasibility Study, DTZ Pieda June 2000

Acton Strategy, DTZ Pieda June 2000

A Plan for the Environment, London Borough of Ealing UDP Second Deposit 18/10/02

London Borough of Ealing Inward Investment and Employment Monitoring Review, Renaisi,September 2001

Copies of these reports are available for inspection by appointment by contacting:

Steve BreenRegeneration and Major ProjectsLondon Borough of Ealing3rd Floor NW, Perceval House14/16 Uxbridge RoadLondon W5 2HLTel 020 8825 9036Email: [email protected]



Appendix 3: A Comparison of Acton with Greenford & Southall Town Centres

Town Centre Indicator Southall m2 *Major

Acton m2 *District

Greenford m2 *District

Hanwell m2 #District Comments/Assessment

Convenience 12,630 7,150 4,243 2,568

Comparison 26,480 10,310 9,100 8,384

Service 6,510 4,280 4,000 1,201

Food & Drink 7,430 4,550 1,670 3,210

Vacant 3,810 5,200 2,537 2,314

Other 280 650 1,300 943

Total Floorspace 57,140 32,140 22,850 18,620

Library 1 1 1 1

Cinema 1 - - -

Investment/Development

Leisure8 Pubs/Clubs, 2Sports/ Leisure

facilities

20 Pubs/Clubs, 1Public Leisure

Centre

2 Pubs/ ClubsRavenor Pk –

Motor BikeMuseum

6 Pubs, SportsCentre

Development• Acton has a high

vacancy ratecompared to othercentres.

• It has a limited rangeof convenience foodstores and a poorrange of durable goods

• It has a high proportionof pubs and

• It has a high level ofinstitutional uses

• It has good sportingprovision

• The town centre hasgood bus access tolocal facilities but nocinema.

• The London TransportMuseum at ActonTown Station attractssome visitors.

It has a good range ofdevelopment opportunitysites and has seensubstantial developmentpressure over the past fewyears.



Town Centre Indicator Southall m2 * Acton m2 * Greenford m2 * Hanwell m2 # Comments/Assessment

Office Floorspace 15,000 (inclinstitutional uses) 27,870 Very little

RecentDevelopments Himalaya Palace

Former Co-op site,High Street20-34 Horn Lane

Lidl Supermarket

Possible/ CurrentDevelopmentOpportunities

British Gas Site Taylor WoodrowSite Charlington Rd Site

Southall HorseMarket

Central WestOffice Site

Boston Rd 3 smallsites

Transport• No rail facilities• Good bus services

(comparable with otherDistrict Centres)

• Upgraded cycle routesin the town centre

• Proposals to extend“Safe Routes toSchools” project

• Increasing trafficcongestion east/

west and north/southJet Station 130 The

Broadway Sainsbury's Site 64-88 Uxbridge Rd

Library SiteTelephoneExchange Hamilton

Road

Acton Town Hall10-20 Horn Lane40-48 High Street

270-278 High StreetLand fronting Mill

Hill Terrace62 Horn Lane

Land west of ActonCentre

Land at MarketPlace/ Churchfield

Rd Greenford Hall Hanwell Library

CommunityFacilities

SCSC, YoungAdults Centre,

Dominion Centre &Community Centre

Priory CommunityCentre, Town Hallcomplex, Iranian

library, Age Concern

Churches,Greenford Hall Church halls

Investment/Development

Numerouschurches, Action

Acton, Acton HealthCentre

Day Nursery

Transport No of Bus routes 9 8 12 6

No of Public CarPark Spaces 686

129 public and 402private, 30 stop andshop spaces 155 85



Town Centre Indicator Southall m2 * Acton m2 * Greenford m2 * Hanwell m2 # Comments/Assessment

Amenity Conservation Area - 9.914ha - 2

Access to OpenSpace 1.28ha 0.740ha

Ravenor Park,Lytten NatureReserve, PerivalePark and BrentRiver Park adjacent- 6.4 Hectares

Brent River Parkadjacent

Crime Figures 868 (June to May2000)

1001 (June 99-May00)

63 (63 June 99-May 00)

389 (June 99- May00)

Amenity/Environment• Victorian shopping

centre with a cluster oflisted buildings. Mostof the town centre is aConservation Area.

• Reasonable access topublic open but poorquality especiallyWoodlands and highlevels of fear of crime,street crime and antisocial behaviour

Partnership &Management

Town CentrePartnership Yes Yes Yes Yes

Town CentreStrategy In development In development In development In development

Town CentreStreetscape DesignManual

No No No No

Town CentreImprovementProgramme

Yes Yes Yes Yes

Partnership &Management� Acton has a

developing Town CentrePartnership led by ActionActon

* Floorspace Information taken from Goad (does not include publichouses)

# Floorspace information taken from site survey (Floorspace data calculatedfrom GIS)

Acton District Centre Shopping (information taken from GOAD)Retail TradeGroup

No of Outlets Percent Percent GB

Convenience 36 15.25 9.42Comparison 72 30.51 49.35Service 86 36.44 28.84Vacant 36 15.25 10.98



Appendix 4: Potential Development Sites

Ref* Site Development potential2 62 Horn Lane • Suitable for 3 /4 storey residential infill development, or B1

development.

7(A1)

ChurchfieldRoad/Hoopers Mews

• Housing, shops and public car parking

8(A2)

Crown Street/Mill HillTerrace

• Potential higher density residential/ mixed use scheme

9(A3)

10-20 HornLane

• Mixed use refurbishment or part redevelopment scheme involvingresidential/ retail/ offices/ leisure/ arts use. Higher density non familyresidential use may be suitable linked to car deterrent strategy withscheme

10(A4)

264-278 HighStreet

• Mixed use office/ retail/ leisure/ residential scheme.

11(A5)

BeechworthHouse 40-48High Street

• Site suitable for a mixed use development including residential, retail,leisure, hotel uses. New development will need to show that itenhances the Acton Town Centre conservation Area

12(A6)

Acton TownHall

• The Council wishes to secure a regenerated town hall for community/arts and other use potentially incorporating other buildings in publicownership. The Council may work with an external “enabling” partnerto secure funding for the development.

13(A7)

North LondonLine/BirkbeckRoad

• Potential higher density residential/ mixed use scheme with improvedlinks to Acton Central station

15(A9)

Crown Streetand KingStreet

• Potential for a street market

* Ref no’s correspond to those in the UDP Second Deposit 18/10/02



Development Sites In Acton Town Centre

This map is reproduced from the Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. LB Ealing Licence no. 086355 2003-02-12

The Ordnance Survey mapping included within this document is provided by the L.B. of Ealing under licence from OS in order to fulfil its public functionto act as a planning authority. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey copyright for advice where they wish to licence OS mapping for their own use.



Acton Town Centre Draft Strategy: Development & Area Improvement SiteRef 2 - 62 Horn Lane, Acton W3

Site Details Possible Development Options & Summary UrbanDesign Guidelines

• Existing Site Area (Sq m.) 1,045• Existing Site Area (Acres) 0.26• Existing Site Area(Hectares)

0.1045

• Existing Floor Space (Sqm.)• Potential Floor Space (Sq

m.) UDP standard – 1:1 ratio,75% site coverage

1045

• Suitable for 3 /4 storey residential infilldevelopment, or B1 development.

• Good proximity to Acton Town Centre• Need to protect amenity of residents of Springfield

House and Summerlands Avenue/ Stuart Road

A

45

UMMERLANDS

57596

Warehouse

BM 2

6.81

SpringfieldHouse

3

d 1to9




Acton Town Centre Draft Strategy: Development & Area Improvement SiteRef 7 (A1) - Land at Market Place/ Churchfield Road, W3


• Existing Site Area (Sq m.) 2578• Existing Site Area (Acres) 0.637• Existing Site Area(Hectares)

0.258

• Existing Floor Space (Sqm.)

500

• Potential Floor Space (Sqm.)

UDP standard – 2:1 ratio,75% site coverage

5160

• Site has potential for additional retail and higherdensity residential use as part of a mixed usedevelopment

• Council major landowner within the site• Need to retain some shared parking provision in

any redevelopment scheme and associated trafficmanagement measures

• North west corner of site within Acton Town centreConservation Area




Acton Town Centre Draft Strategy: Development & Area Improvement SiteRef 8 (A2) - Crown Street/ Mill Hill Terrace development site



0.18



3660

• Potential higher density residential/ mixed usescheme

• Site has a minded to grant approval for housing on191/193 High Street and Mill Hill Terrace frontage




Acton Town Centre Draft Strategy: Development & Area Improvement SiteRef 9 (A3) - 10-20 Horn Lane, Acton W3



0.25


m.)UDP standard – 2:1 ratio,75%

Site coverage

4990

• Mixed use refurbishment or part redevelopmentscheme involving residential/ retail/ offices/ leisure/arts use.

• New development should enhance the TownCentre Conservation Area and have regard toscale of surrounding uses.

R R

OA

D

12412

48

49

3531

25

26

38

Works

33

20

23

13

1610

26.5m

18

er

RECTORY ROAD

se




Acton Town Centre Draft Strategy: Development & Area Improvement SiteRef 10 (A4) - 264-278 High Street, Acton W3

Site Details Possible Development Options &Summary Urban Design Guidelines

• Existing Site Area (Sq m.) 960• Existing Site Area (Acres) 0.24• Existing Site Area (Hectares) 0.096

10• Existing Floor Space (Sq m.)• Potential Floor Space (Sq m.) UDP standard – 2:1 ratio, 75% sitecoverage

1920

• Mixed use office/ retail/ leisure/residential scheme.

• A number of potential constraints(demolition only acceptable if newscheme contributes to ConservationArea and respects setting of listed ActonHill Methodist church opposite, any newhousing would need sound attenuationmeasures ).




Acton Town Centre Draft Strategy: Development & Area Improvement SiteRef 11 (A5) - Beechworth House, 40-48 High Street, Acton W3

Site Details Possible Development Options &Summary Urban DesignGuidelines

• Existing Site Area (Sq m.) 901• Existing Site Area (Acres) 0.22• Existing Site Area (Hectares) 0.09• Existing Floor Space (Sq m.)• Potential Floor Space (Sq m.) UDP standard – 2:1 ratio, 75% site coverage

1800 sqm +

Site suitable for a mixed usedevelopment including residential,retail, leisure, hotel uses. Newdevelopment will need to show thatit enhances the Acton Town Centreconservation Area. Existing rearservicing will need to be retainedespecially if the West London Tramis implemented.

2

C

40 to 48

PH

Club

BeechworthHouse

50 36

1

2

52

3

5 6914.7m




Acton Town Centre Draft Strategy: Development & Area Improvement SiteRef 12 (A6) - Acton Town Hall, Winchester Street, W3



0.5944


7808sqm



8916sqm

• Council will look to a commercial partner to helpsecure new uses for Acton Town Hall and thesurrounding commercial building

13.0m

12 to 16

6 to 11

BathsPublic

SALISBURY STREET

14.8mLB BM 15.25m

Town Hall

7

3

4753

391395

AC

TON

LAN

E

BM 15.69mTCB

TCB

14.7m

Public Baths

Tk

WIN

CH

ES

TER El Sub Sta

Town Hall

15.9m

EET

17.9m

STREET

5

1

ary




Acton Town Centre Draft Strategy: Development & Area Improvement SiteRef 13 (A7) - Land west of Acton Central station, High Street, W3



0.47


Tbc



• Suitable for higher density residential developmentsubject to appropriate noise attenuation measuresand improved links between Acton Central andHigh Street




Acton Town Centre Draft Strategy: Development & Area Improvement SiteRef 15 (A9) - Crown Street and King Street, W3


• Existing Site Area (Sq m.)• Existing Site Area (Acres)• Existing Site Area(Hectares)• Existing Floor Space (Sqm.)• Potential Floor Space (Sq


• Potential for street market




Appendix 5: Acton District Centre Health Check 2000

13 Health Check Indicators have been used to carry out this comparative analysis. A fuller moredetailed report looking at Metropolitan, Major and District Centres is available from the LB EalingRaMP Unit. Contact Anne White, tel: 020 8825 6847.

UDP DESIGNATIONS AND ZONINGDesignated as a District Centre within the LB Ealing UDP and contains designated frontagesincluding: High Street 80-124, 121-137, 145-171, 191-211, Shopping Precinct 1-21, Market Place1A-9, King Street 1-31, Crown Street 16-28, Horn Lane 1-33, Churchfield Road 17-75, 14-46, 124-144 & 10 Market Place.Statutory Listed Buildings contained within the centre include Acton High Street (Acton HillMethodist Church, George & Dragon PH, 185,241,243,245,247,249,251,253,255,257,259,261,263,265,267.Crown Street, St Mary’s Church, and The Way Monument in the Churchyard of St. Mary.The Town Centre falls within an Archaeological Interest Area. Part of the centre lies within theActon Town Centre, and Acton Park Conservation Area. The Woodlands and the area outsideSteyne House provides and area of Public Open Space.

A) ATTRACTIONS

Information taken from the GOAD Survey 16/10/00 and subsequent LBE survey dated December2001.

1 Number of Units Floorspace(m2)Convenience 36 7150Comparison 72 10310Financial/ business services 43 4280Food and Drink 45 4550Other 6 650Vacant 36 5200

NO OF RETAILUNITS

Total 238 32140Vacancy Rate =15.25%

2 Number of Units Floorspace(m2)Markets 0 0Main Multiple 39 10130Bank/building society 8 1390ATM Yes -Post Office 1 376Butcher 5 460Baker 1 90Fishmonger 0 0

SPECIALATTRACTIONS

Other/specifyE.g. Church, Hotel, B&B.

20 Pubs/Clubs Not known



3 NumberEducation Ealing Tertiary College (Acton Centre)Public Service LibraryHealth E.g, GP, Clinic New health centre Crown Street, and

refurbished health centre on Church Road

CULTURAL /COMMUNITYSERVICE

Other (specify) 1 Public Leisure Centre (swimming pool,gym, sauna), 1 private gymMagistrates Court

4 Yes No Location if YesOPPORTUNITY/UNDER USED SITEE.g. Depot

Yes Refer to Appendix 4

5 Yes No Location if YesVACANT/REDEVELOPMENTOPPORTUNITY

Yes Refer to Appendix 4

B) ACCESSIBILITY

6 NumberOn Street 25 spaces stop and shop (Crown Street and

Churchfield Road)Off Street 531 (in 2 public car parks and 2 private car

parks)

PUBLIC PARKING

Total 531

7 Number/ Name/ TypeCycle Routes 3 routesFormal Cycle Parking *

CYCLING

Informal Cycle Parking *

8Junction Entry Treatments *Pedestrianised Street Yes (King Street) NoPavements Clear andAccessible*

Good Average Poor

Island Zebra Pelican

PEDESTRIANS

Pedestrian Crossings*



9Nos. of bus routes Eight: 70, 207, 266, 607, E3, H40, N23,

N207Train Station withinwalking distance

Yes (Acton Central)

Tube Station withinwalking Distance

No (800m)

Cab/ taxi rank/ firm Yes

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Disability AccessibilityRating

% of Shop fronts d.a

C) AMENITY

10 NumberPUBLIC FACILITIES Nos. of Litter Bins *

Recycling Facility *Public Toilet *Seating *Green Spaces 0.740HaConservation Area 9.914HaPost Boxes 3Phone Booths 10Trees *Other (e.g. Information Panels) 4

11 NumberSAFETY Property *Total Crime

Incidents1001Jun99-May00

Personal *

Accidents (01/01/200 – 31/12/00) 15 x Serious42 x Slight

Street Lighting (SON Standard) *CCTV YesOther Measures *

12 Good Average PoorLitter Bins well Kept ✔

Graffiti ✔

Landscaping ✔

Appearance of Area ✔

UPKEEP

Ambience ✔

13 Good Average PoorPOLLUTION Air Quality ✔

Noise Pollution*Other*



D) MANAGEMENT AND IDENTITY

13Being DevelopedAgreed

MANAGEMENT/IMPROVEMENTSTRATEGY Being Implemented ✔

14Being DevelopedIn Existence ✔ Years: 1Membership Participants (Nos.) *Cross Sector *

DevelopingMature

Capacity and independence Level

Independent ✔

Equal Opportunity policy support N/a

CENTRE FORUM/GROUP

Equal Opportunity Evidence N/a

Relevant AssociationsAction ActonPartnership

CarolineMaldonado

16-18 Crown Street,Acton, W3 8SD

020 8993 9605

* not assessed at time of survey



Appendix 6: Definition of the Shopping Hierarchy(LAPC, 1996, Supplementary Advice on Strategic Town Centres)

Metropolitan Centres: EalingOutstanding shopping centres found in outer London, typically having more than 100,000 sqm anda high level of comparison shopping including a broad range of multiple retailers and severalDepartment Stores. Most have developed complementary activities that draw people in outsidepeak shopping hours.

Major Centres: SouthallImportant shopping and service centres, but are typically smaller in scale and closer together thanthose in the metropolitan category. They usually have at least 50,000 sqm of retail floorspace andsome may have developed specialist roles. With sizeable local catchment areas, many of thesecentres have established cultural & entertainment facilities that will keep them alive in the evenings.

District Centres: Acton, Greenford & HanwellRanging in size from 10,000-50,000 sqm of retail floorspace these centres provide convenience andservices for local customers with comparison shopping floorspace rarely exceeding 50% of thetotal. The majority of people that use them are on foot, although access by car and public transportneeds to be provided for. Some have individual special functions due to their lower rent.

Town CentreA term used to describe the larger centres within the Borough, i.e. Ealing, Southall, Acton,Greenford and Hanwell.

Neighbourhood Centres: East Acton, Park Royal, Northfields, Northolt, Perivale etcThey provide a variety of convenience shops, and a number of shops providing essential localservices.

Local Centre / Single UnitsThey are composed mainly of convenience and service shops and a very limited amount ofcomparison shops

Shopping CentreA general term to describe all types of retail centre.



Appendix 7: Public Town Centre Car Parking 2001

Off street parking (public)

Salisbury Street (surface carpark)

Churchfield Road (surfacecar park)

68 spaces

61 spaces

Off street parking (private)Safeways car park

The Oaks Shopping Centre

286 spaces

118 spaces

On street parking

On surrounding residentialstreets

High Street controls

Churchfield Road/ KingStreet controls / ChurchStreet controls

Town Centre CPZ proposed

Mon to Sat 8am to 6.30pm

Stop and Shop facilities(30mins) on ChurchfieldRoad and Crown Street

Total 533 off street and 30 onstreet



Appendix 8: Extract from Acton Area Transport Strategy 2000

The Acton Area Transport Strategy sets out the following principles to underpin the transportproposals for the town centre. These are reflected in the Transport action plan proposals above.These ideas include:

• An emphasis on improving public transport accessibility and reducing journey times

• Improving air quality in the town centre and create a more pleasant and safer pedestrianenvironment

• Introducing a 20 mph zone off Acton High Street

• Traffic metering on Uxbridge Road and east of the town centre to give buses priority on theUxbridge Road

• Supporting the proposals for a night bus service on route 266 and promote bus prioritymeasures along its routes as part of the London Bus Initiative

• Supporting a new route linking Acton Town Centre and Acton Town centre with EalingBroadway via Popes Lane and South Ealing Road/ St Mary’s Road

• Supporting the idea of a shuttle linking Acton town centre with stations that are peripheral to thetown (Acton Main Line, Acton Town, South Acton and Acton Central)

• Improvements for pedestrians at Crown Street/ High Street junctions and Gunnersbury lane/Steyne Road/ High Street junctions

• Encourage cycling by improving the network of cycle routes and ensuring a good distribution ofsecure parking places

• Widening footways in Acton Town centre where appropriate

• Encouraging up to 20% of traffic travelling through the town centre to use the more suitablestrategic road network by restraining the traffic capacity of streets in and close to the towncentre

• Creating a network of Safer Routes to School to encourage children to walk to school ratherthan be driven adding to local congestion in the town centre



Appendix 9: West London Tram

The Mayor of London has recently given the goahead for 2 new tram schemes and 2 new busschemes across London that will carry aprojected 138 million passenger journeys a year,encourage regeneration and give Londonersbetter access to jobs. One of these is the WestLondon Tram.

The scheme runs from Shepherds Bush toUxbridge via Acton, Ealing, Hanwell andSouthall town centres. Designed to create amajor improvement in public transport, it is oneof the most significant proposals in WestLondon for many years and will have a majorimpact upon Acton town centre.

It would bring 53,000 more people within 30 minutes’ public transport travelling time of the town centre,an increase of 10%. This is a greater accessibility improvement than those enjoyed by the competingcentres of Shepherds Bush (White City) and Uxbridge.

Ealing Council strongly supports the principle of the scheme.

Transport for London consulted households and businesses in 2001 on the principle of introducing apublic transport priority scheme in west London. 74% of the 2600 respondents in Ealing said they wouldbe willing to see less space for general road traffic in return for substantially improved public transport.

Further design is now being carried out by Transport for London and series of local consultation groupsare currently being formed. A group for Acton should meet in March 2003. This group will be taskedwith discussing the detailed issues to consider for the new tram project.

Following this process Transport for London, potentially in partnership with Ealing Council, will apply for aTransport & Works Order and a Public Inquiry will be called in 2004.

To ensure maximum reliability the tram needs priority along the road. The precise extent of theseparation of the tram from general traffic and the implications for general traffic movements will bedeveloped as design work proceeds. Transport for London has commissioned studies to assess thetram route alignment in the Acton area and is also developing traffic models to assess the potentialeffects on the adjacent road network.

The tram’s advantages are:

• faster than the existing 207 bus service;

• a more reliable service;

• a more comfortable ride;

• guaranteed level boarding at stops;

• no local emissions;

• less noise than the existing diesel buses.

Transport for London estimate that the tram could increase public transport ridership by over 7000 tripsduring the morning peak period alone. Nearly 5000 of these extra passengers would transfer from car,reducing car usage along the corridor with benefits of reduced congestion and pollution.



Any major project presents challenges in maximising its overall benefit. The current design work isaddressing these, including:

• the short term construction impact on town centre’s environment and economy;

• on-route traffic management measures balancing priority for the trams with the need to maintainaccess for essential users and servicing;

• the overall traffic management strategy to ensure that any traffic displaced as a result of the prioritymeasures is channelled into acceptable routes;

• the impact upon the ‘streetscene’ of overhead line equipment.

These challenges also create opportunities for improved pedestrian circulation and environmentalimprovements within the town centre, which will be explored by TfL’s current design work.



Appendix 10: Acton Town Centre Strategy Map & Summary Action Points



Acton Town Centre Strategy Summary Action Points

Investment Transport Environment Town Centre Management Organisationand Delivery (not mapped)

Development Opportunity Sites (numbers refer to the UDP 1st deposit 01/02/02)

9. 10-20 Horn LaneMixed use refurbishment or partredevelopment involving residential/ retail/offices/ leisure/ arts use.

10. 264-278 High StreetOffice/ retail/ leisure/ residential scheme.

11. 40-48 High StreetResidential, retail, leisure, hotel uses.

2. 62 Horn Lane3/4 storey residential infill or officedevelopment.

12. Acton Town HallMixed use development incorporatingcommunity and arts development and otherbuildings in public ownership.

7. Churchfield Road/Hoopers MewsHousing, shops and public car parking

8. Crown Street/ Mill Hill TerraceHigher density residential/ mixed use scheme

13. North London Line/Birkbeck RoadResidential/ mixed use scheme with improvedlinks to Acton Central station

Designated Shopping Protection for retail uses

Assess feasibility of a weekly market such asfarmers market for Acton (not mapped)

Walking Walking improvements: Crossings, refuges, signals

CyclingDevelop new routes (not mapped)

BusesSeek new shuttle linking stationswith town centre (not mapped)

CarsIntroduce Controlled Parking Zonesfor Acton Main Line, Acton Central& South Acton areas (not mapped)

West London Tram Tram implementation and related environmental/ traffic management schemes

Interchanges Pedestrian/rail/bus Interchange schemes at Acton Central station

Public Realm Improvements

Improve approaches to Acton Town Centre: e.g.developing a public art project on the railwaybridge over Uxbridge Road

Identify and develop proposals for improving“public spaces” within the town centre, e.g.:

a) Pedestrian area Safeway’s and St Mary’sChurchb) create new “place” at junction of MarketPlace/Churchfield Road

Work with the Oaks Shopping Centre to improvethe public realm along Churchfield Road

BuildingsComplete town centre shops upgrade throughConservation Area Partnership funding (notmapped)

Churchfield Road Shop Front Improvement Scheme

Statutory Listed Building

Locally Listed Building

Environmental ImprovementsUpgrade Street Furniture: bins, benches, removestreet clutter (not mapped)

Upgrade street lighting in the town centre (notmapped)

Provide festive lights (not mapped)

Community Safety

CCTV

Organisation and Delivery

Town Centre Strategy & Action Plan

Work with the Acton Business Forum,Town Centre and Local Economy TaskGroup and other interested parties toidentify and prioritise town centre actions.

Investigate and establish funding for towncentre management including theestablishment of a town centre trust, and/ora Business Improvement District and theuse of planning (section 106) agreements

Develop streetscape design andmanagement guide

The map indicates the current UnitaryDevelopment Plan designations withinand around Acton Town Centre. Thesedesignations were placed on a 6 weekconsultation period on the 1st February2002, and there were no objectionsreceived regarding any designationswithin Acton Town Centre.



Documents

Improving Acton Town Centre