South Acton, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Acton |
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 South Acton
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| OS grid reference | TQ205805 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | W3,W4 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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South Acton in Acton, West London, is 6.4 miles (10.3 km) west of Charing Cross. At the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people.
The area is dominated by the South Acton housing estate, a large public housing estate owned by Ealing Council. There are some 2,000 residential dwellings on the estate, covering approximately 25 hectares of land. These are accommodated in a range of principally medium to high rise blocks. The estate also provides shops, a youth club, a community centre, a nursery, school buildings and open space.
The area is well served by transport links. Acton Town, a major interchange for the District and Piccadilly lines, with links to Heathrow and the West End is on the western boundary. On the southern boundary is South Acton railway station, a London Overground station running north through to Stratford and south to Richmond. The site is bounded to the north by Acton High Street, to the south by the London Overground railway line, to the east by a Victorian residential neighbourhood and to the west by Bollo Lane and the tube lines. To the south east, on the other side of the railway line, lie the suburban residential areas of Acton Green and Bedford Park.
The estate and area is also particularly diverse. Historically, the area has been important for Irish Working Class immigrants, and recently this has been supplemented by Indian, Afro-Caribbean and Somali immigration. Currently the population is 52% white, including 5% of Irish descent, 24% Afro-Caribbean, 16% Asian, with the last 8% being of other ethnic origins. A great range of first languages other than English are spoken at the local school.
Historically, the estate and the area has suffered from a poor reputation, in particular because of high levels of crime. However, recent efforts by the Council, Ealing Homes (the council's housing management company) and local residents have seen improvements in the area from 2005 onwards.
Since 2001, the South Acton estate has been undergoing a regeneration which has resulted in significant improvements in both housing and community.
Contents
History of South Acton Estate
The area was originally built to a traditional Victorian street pattern with medium density terraced housing occupying the majority of the site. Although initially having good north/south links, the construction of the railway lines created a permanent barrier in these areas. In the post war period, the area was earmarked for comprehensive redevelopment that would involve clearance of the 19th century properties labelled as slums. This was a common response by local authorities to the problems of poor housing after the war and it led to the proliferation of medium and high rise system built housing estates, influenced by Modernist ideals of Le Corbusier. Government subsidies and local politics also encouraged the production of system built and high rise housing. The council embarked on comprehensive redevelopment in 1949 with the construction of Bollo Court. The redevelopment continued over the 50s, 60s and 70s with a variety of styles and archetypes.
Property types and description
The central area of the site comprises 1960’s tower blocks and slab blocks, including Charles Hocking House, Barwick House, Hardy Court, Carisbrooke and Ludlow Courts, which are set in a generous open pedestrian space, located to the north of Bollo Bridge Road. Although geographically close to the red brick area to the north of the site and the blocks to west of the site, the area is isolated by a lack of interconnecting roads.
The west area of the estate is bordered by Bollo Lane to the west, the industrial area and Bollo Bridge Road to the south, and the Victorian Housing along Heathfield Road to the north. The existing infant and junior schools with associated open space create an eastern boundary. The west area predominately comprises a mixture of mid to high rise tower blocks. Geographically this area is closest to Acton Town tube station and its excellent public transport connections. The last part of the site to be built dates from the late 1970s and is commonly referred to as the ‘red brick’ area, located at the north of the site, adjacent to the town centre. This area comprises a mixture of low rise and high rise blocks, with a large number of now unused underground car parks. It has a sloping site topography and lack of through roads, and is characterised by complex deck access circulation patterns, which are difficult to negotiate as a pedestrian.
Generally the estate is characterised by a series of slab blocks and towers set in mature landscaped open spaces which exploit the natural topography of the site. Flats on the upper floors of many of the taller buildings enjoy spectacular views across London. Some of the original inhabitants of the estate are still resident and can recall how pleasant it was when newly built. Traditionally the area was well served by local industries such as Wilkinson Sword and Lucas Aerospace but the last decade has witnessed a decline in traditional manufacturing employment and a steady deterioration of the physical environment.
The Council has been severely limited in its ability to invest in the fabric of buildings and the estate since it was built, primarily in the 1960s and 1970s. The buildings themselves and the public realm are now tired and significant new investment is necessary.
In 1999, NBA Consortium Services carried out a Stock Condition Survey. This identified a number of problems and shortfalls with the existing stock. These included need for concrete repairs, roof repairs, window replacements, better insulation standards, upgrading of lifts and common parts, access control and security as well as the need for improvements internally and to external spaces.
Regeneration
As long ago as 1996 the council decided that redevelopment and regeneration was needed on South Acton to improve the quality of homes and of peoples lives. As noted above, lack of investment and poor original design and the high levels of maintenance necessary meant that refurbishment was not the preferred option.
Masterplan
ECD Architects and Proctor and Matthews were appointed by Ealing Council to prepare an Urban Design Framework, or masterplan, for the regeneration of the South Acton Estate. This framework explores the potential of South Acton and sets markers for what could be achieved if redevelopment was to be pursued.
The framework proposed a mixed development is proposed, including the addition of new housing (public and private), community facilities, non-residential commercial development and retail.
The masterplanners recognised "a real opportunity to create a new high density urban quarter over the next decade, served as it is by Acton Town underground station on the Piccadilly line and South Acton on the north London line." South Acton has a high PTAL rating, meaning that density could be conceivably double from the 2000 units, to near 3500 units.
Recent Development
There has been several phases of development on South Acton since 2001.
Phase 1
In 2001 Barrie House, a 21 storey tower block on the centre of the estate was demolished and Phase 1 of the regeneration of South Acton began with the re-development of this site in partnership with Catalyst. The scheme consists of 86 new homes, both social rented and shared ownership and was completed in 2005. In addition six blocks were refurbished internally and externally and the Oak Tree Community Centre (located on Osborne Road) was demolished and new centre (offering approximately twice the floor area) was built in its place. The new community centre opened in August 2007.
Phase 2
Phase 2.1 on the site of Maugham Court, Reade Court, Lawrence Court, and Shaw Court Garages will deliver 129 new homes: 75 rented units and 54 shared ownership units, including 13 Wheelchair adapted units. Catalyst successfully gained full planning consent for this phase in November 2007. Construction of the new homes began in May 2008, with an estimated 2 years to complete the building works. Phase 2.2 on the site of Shaw Court and Kipling Tower car park will deliver a further 127 units with a similar split of rented and shared ownership units.
Selecting a developer
Following the slow progress since the beginning of phase 1 and the development of the masterplan, the council decided that a new approach was needed. Instead of piecemeal development, a developer partner would be selected to deliver all future phases of development or refurbishment and to deliver a vision for South Acton.
The area has been described as "a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a completely new sense of place in what should be a high value area of west London."
South Acton In Popular Culture
- Episode 1 of "How the Other Half Lives" a Channel 4 documentary showing the poverty of one family on the south acton estate compared family living in the rich part of the country.
- Beaumaris Tower, on the South Acton estate, was a stand-in for the fictional Nelson Mandela House, the home of Del Boy in the popular sitcom Only Fools and Horses.
- Charles Hocking House is seen at the beginning of Steptoe and Son Series 8 Episode 1 "Back in Fashion"
- Scenes from the 1986 movie Aliens and the 1989 movie Batman were shot inside the disused Acton power station.
- Musician M.I.A in interviews has hinted one of the meanings of her stage name is "Missing in Acton", with Acton being the place she grew up.
- The Who are from Acton.
- The 1994 British drama 'Ladybird Ladybird' was shot all over Acton and was directed by Ken Loach.
- The BBC Three sitcom People Just Do Nothing was filmed on and around the South Acton Estate.
Neighbouring places
Gallery
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View of South Acton from Barwick House, showing Jerome Tower and Berrymede Junior School
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Acton Park
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Barwick House, on the South Acton estate
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Blocks of flats on the South Acton estate
