Visit Ealing's hidden gems
Location: Ealing, London - 6.30pm-8pm, Thursday 5th June 2014
Anyone with an interest in architecture is being invited to attend an event for this year's London Festival of Architecture event at Dickens Yard in Ealing. Sponsored by the Berkeley Group, the UK's largest private house building company for the third time, the theme of this year's festival is Capital.
The event will involve an open evening and private tour of Dickens Yard which is a St George development, part of the Berkeley Group as a key site for the festival in the centre of Ealing. Here a four acre former council car park is being transformed into a mixed use development with shops and restaurants, 698 new homes (including 70 designed for senior living) as well as fantastic amount of public space.
Three new squares lie at the heart of the development which was designed by John Thompson & Partners. They sit alongside a route linking three historic gems: the Grade II Town Hall, Sir George Gilbert Scott's Grade II* Church, and the Old Fire Station. The architects have drawn on this rich local heritage and combined new retail facilities along with a mix of housing for private sale and shared ownership.
Like many retail centres, Ealing faces increasing competition from shopping centres and the internet. However, the developer and council have responded accordingly and those attending will be invited to enjoy a private tour of this fascinating setting and have an opportunity to debate what this says about how London suburbs can address the housing challenge.
Attendance is free, but registration is essential.
Please email emma.lidefjard@berkeleygroup.co.uk to receive your invitation.