REGENERATION
North Acton Square
A new public square for the growing population of the area will be created . The council bought the land in front of North Acton Tube station in 2015 and it plans to create a new open space planted with trees to provide a focal point for the the rapidly changing area . The plan is for work to start in 2017 and the hope is for it to open later in the year , when it will be available to host community activities and events .
Entrance paths to the station are currently narrow and out of view – which make people feel unsafe . The idea is to also address this as part of the work on the new square , and make the whole area feel safer and more welcoming as a result .
Read more at ealingnewsextra . co . uk / features / regeneration
West Ealing Workspace Hub
A shared working space for local entrepreneurs and small businesses is being set up in West Ealing .
Ealing Council is working with Catalyst Housing , University of West London , OPEN Ealing , InWestEaling , West Ealing Neighbours and ContactUs on the project which will see co-working available over two floors of St James House in St James Avenue . It used to be the office of Catalyst Gateway but is not currently occupied on a permanent basis by anyone .
The plan is to help freelancers , social enterprises , entrepreneurs , homeworkers and other small businesses by providing an accessible and affordable workplace . It thereby reduces their financial commitments to buying or leasing long-term office space but keeps them close to the high street . Wifi and networking events will be available to members .
When the hub opens in spring 2017 , the first floor will be turned into a conventional shared workspace with desks and meeting rooms , whereas the second will become a ‘ messier ’ space for creatives and artists .
It follows a successful trial of the concept last year in an empty premises in Drayton Green Road .
The Mayor of London ’ s Regeneration Fund has contributed £ 283,320 towards refurbishing the office space and the remaining £ 301,790 has been secured through matchfunding by the partners behind the scheme .
St James Avenue , the public space outside St James House , is going to be improved before spring 2017 . The new space will see the removal of old planter boxes , currently being used by street drinkers as seating . Instead , a more welcoming space will be created to allow pop-up events and activities , such as markets and outdoor performances , to take place . The space will also complement the hub offices by creating somewhere activities inside can spill out on to .
Council leader Julian Bell said : “ Town centre regeneration is not just about supporting already established businesses . Traditional ways of working are changing and the trial showed West Ealing is an ideal location to have a business hub while also supporting the large creative community we have in Ealing .”
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16 around ealing Winter 2016 / 17