A blueprint for a rejuvenated Southall that maximises the enormous potential of Crossrail has been published by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and Ealing Council.
The Southall Opportunity Area Planning Framework (SOAPF) sets out the planning, regeneration and design guidance that will lead to the creation of 6,000 new homes and up to 3,000 jobs.
Southall has been earmarked as one of the parts of London best positioned to secure the wider economic benefits that Crossrail will bring. Southall will be only 18 minutes from Central London when Crossrail, a fast new railway service connecting the outer suburbs to the heart of the city, opens in 2019.
The framework outlines the opportunities that exist to ensure Southall uses Crossrail to become one of London’s most dynamic areas.
The document, proposes the comprehensive regeneration of Southall Station to include a major new, mixed-use development, wholesale improvements to transport infrastructure, new residential neighbourhoods on the former industrial land at West Southall and East Southall and the upgrade of Havelock Estate.
It also recommends major improvements to the high street network on Southall Broadway, South Road and The Green and strengthening its specialist Asian retail offer. This will be done by creating a greater variety of retail, leisure and evening economy uses to complement the current offer.
Plans are well under way to bring social and economic improvements to Southall. Planning permission has already been granted for the redevelopment of the former Southall Gas Works site which will create 3,750 new homes for Londoners. The scheme will also include a school and shops creating 1,000 permanent jobs. The first homes in the new neighbourhood are anticipated to complete in 2019, the year after Crossrail opens.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “Southall is one of London's gems and the arrival of Crossrail in 2019 will herald a new chapter for the town, stimulating large-scale investment in commercial activities, retail and housing and sparking massive regeneration.
“This document sets out our exciting plans for the area and how we can harness Crossrail to deliver thousands of much-needed homes and jobs for Londoners while striving to keep Southall's unique character.”
Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said: “This document sets out a joint approach to regenerating Southall over the next 20 years, and will help us to deliver the community-driven Southall Big Plan, transforming the area into a vibrant and attractive place to live, work and visit.
“With such a rich cultural tapestry, Southall is brimming with opportunities for economic growth and our challenge is to build on the work already going on in the area and take advantage of the economic benefits Crossrail will bring.”
The 520 hectare Southall Opportunity Area is one of 39 areas designated by the Mayor with significant capacity for new housing, commercial and other development.
More than £15million is being invested by the Mayor of London, including from his Regeneration Fund and Growing Places Fund, together with Transport for London and Ealing Council towards regenerating the high streets, public realm and parks in Southall, as well as improving the road networks and supporting community facilities.
Southall has also been shortlisted as possible Housing Zone – a new initiative from the Mayor that sees local authorities identify and package together brownfield land which could be used for development, remove all unnecessary planning restrictions across it and partner with a developer to build new homes. The Mayor believe that 50,000 new homes, could be built across twenty new housing zones in the capital.
The Southall Opportunity Area Planning Framework can be accessed here /priorities/planning/publications/southall-opportunity-area-planning-framework