Ealing Council has set out a vision where everyone in the borough’s 7 towns lives within a short walk or bike ride from all the basic services they need – including shops, doctor’s surgeries, and parks.
The approach detailed in ‘Our 7 Towns – guidance on 20-minute neighbourhoods in Ealing’ is designed with the needs of residents in mind, and once implemented would offer a long list of potential benefits.
Being able to reach all the services people need, without having to drive or take public transport, could boost local economies, improve residents’ health and wellbeing, offer a better quality of life, and make the air cleaner. Ultimately, it will help tackle climate change by reducing emissions.
The new guidance aims to support some of the key ideas set out in the new Local Plan. It reflects the council’s ambition to help create a better connected borough, where the town centres and high streets fit modern needs.
Council leader Peter Mason said: “Through 20-minute neighbourhoods, we want to create communities where your daily needs are all within a short walk or cycle from your home, whether that’s your local GP surgery, supermarkets and corner shops, or green and open space, we want our local neighbourhoods and communities to be truly accessible.”
Local amenities on your doorstep
This 20-minute neighbourhood approach will also help lower traffic, creating a more welcoming environment. And although the guidance is new, the council has already been following its principles in local regeneration projects for some time.
The rejuvenation of the South Acton estate is one of the largest regeneration projects in the borough. It will eventually provide around 3,500 new high-quality, safe, and energy-efficient homes – 40% of which will be let at genuinely affordable rents. Community facilities are deliberately within easy walking distance of the new homes. This includes a new community centre, Bollo Brook Youth Centre, a health centre, a café, barber, and a supermarket.
Responding to community values and needs
The real-life experiences of the borough’s residents, and the specific barriers they encounter, has informed the council’s approach to 20-minute neighbourhoods. The feedback from thousands of responses gathered via the Shaping Ealing, Your Voice Your Town, and 20-minute frameworks consultations will inform priorities for each town.
The guidance recognises that each of the borough’s 7 towns will have its own distinct needs. Recognising that local needs will change over time, it will be periodically updated to remain relevant and effective. This will include drawing on feedback from the ‘Your Voice, Your Town’ events.
‘The right kind of growth’
Councillor Mason added: “We want to continue fighting the climate crisis through promoting walking, cycling, and scooting, creating a greener and cleaner borough for our residents. This work is key to building strong communities, filled with identity, pride, and purpose, where residents can enjoy and experience their neighbourhoods together.”
Councillor Shital Manro, the council’s cabinet member for good growth and new homes, said: “We are an ambitious borough focused on growth, but we’ve always been clear that it must be the right kind of growth – the type that delivers the social infrastructure and amenities that our communities need.”
