John Lewis Partnership is set to launch a planning appeal to reach a decision on its application build more than 400 homes above its Waitrose store in West Ealing, London, after waiting almost a year for the go-ahead.
The retailer is filing an appeal on grounds of ‘non-determination’ as the proposals are still being reviewed by Ealing Council.
The partnership is aiming to be on site in late 2025 and complete its redevelopment work in 2029.
The proposals, which JLP is requesting is considered by a planning inspector, comprises of 428 homes – including 83 affordable rental homes – and shared areas for fitness, work and socialising, as well as more than 36,500sq ft of green space.
John Lewis said it believes in the “broad-reaching benefits in creating vital new housing and a community space in West Ealing, while investing further into our retail estate”.
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It said it was confident that an appeal will grant permission for the redevelopment and that it will continue to work closely with the council and local community to deliver on social and charitable initiatives should the plans go ahead.
JLP director of build-to-rent Katherine Russell said: “We have taken the decision to appeal for non-determination of our planning application to build new rental homes nearly one year on from first submitting it to Ealing Council.
“Our proposals will create hundreds of homes at a time when all political parties agree there’s a desperate need for more housing and local investment to spur economic growth, with a priority on brownfield land.
“An appeal is not something we take lightly, however, we believe we have strong grounds to be successful given the opportunity to transform an under-used brownfield site close to the publicly-funded Crossrail station with new homes and investment that will benefit the wider community.”
James Dunne, head of operational real estate at Abrdn, which has a £500m joint venture with JLP, added: “We remain fully committed to our strategy of creating thousands of critically needed quality rental homes alongside John Lewis Partnership and look forward to the outcome of the ongoing due process in West Ealing.”
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