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 is a part of Acton in West London. It is about 10 kilometers (6.4 miles) west of Charing Cross, a famous spot in central London. In 2001, the wider Acton area, which includes South Acton, had over 53,000 people living there.
South Acton is well known for its large housing area called the South Acton Estate. This estate has about 2,000 homes, mostly in medium to tall buildings. It also has shops, a youth club, a community center, a nursery, schools, and open green spaces for everyone to enjoy.
The area has great ways to get around. Acton Town is a big train station nearby. You can catch the District line and Piccadilly line trains there. These lines connect you to Heathrow Airport and the West End. South Acton railway station is also close by. It's a London Overground station that goes north to Stratford and south to Richmond.
South Acton is a very diverse place. For a long time, many Irish immigrants settled here. More recently, people from India, the Caribbean, and Somalia have also made South Acton their home. This mix of cultures means many different languages are spoken in the local schools.
In the past, the area had a difficult reputation. However, local groups and the council have worked hard since 2005 to make things much better. Since 2001, the South Acton Estate has been getting a big makeover. This has led to many improvements in homes and the community.
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History of the South Acton Estate
Originally, South Acton had many traditional Victorian houses built close together. After World War II, many of these older homes were seen as needing to be replaced. So, the council decided to rebuild the area. This was a common idea after the war to improve housing. It led to many medium and tall apartment buildings being built.
Building new homes started in 1949 with Bollo Court. More buildings were added throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Each part of the estate was built in a slightly different style.
Types of Homes in South Acton
The middle part of the estate has tall apartment blocks from the 1960s. These include buildings like Charles Hocking House and Barwick House. They are surrounded by open spaces for people to walk and relax.
The western part of the estate has many mid to tall apartment buildings. This area is very close to Acton Town tube station, which makes it easy for people to travel. The newest part of the estate, built in the late 1970s, is known as the 'red brick' area. It has a mix of shorter and taller buildings.
Many of the homes on the upper floors of the taller buildings have amazing views across London. Some people who first lived on the estate still live there today. They remember how nice it was when it was first built. In the past, there were many local factories, but over time, these jobs have become fewer.
Over the years, the council found it hard to invest enough money to keep the buildings and public areas in top condition. So, the buildings and outdoor spaces started to look a bit tired. A lot of new investment was needed to fix them up.
Making South Acton Better
Back in 1996, the council decided that the South Acton Estate needed a big change. They wanted to improve the quality of homes and the lives of the people living there. Because the buildings were old and needed a lot of repairs, it was decided that rebuilding parts of the estate was a better idea than just fixing up the old ones.
The Masterplan for Change
Architects were hired by Ealing Council to create a special plan for South Acton. This plan, called a "masterplan," looked at all the possibilities for the area. It set out goals for what could be achieved if the rebuilding went ahead.
The masterplan suggested building a mix of new homes, including both public housing and private homes. It also planned for new community centers, shops, and other businesses. The planners saw a great chance to create a new, busy part of West London. This was especially true because of the excellent transport links like Acton Town tube station.
Recent Improvements
Since 2001, South Acton has seen several stages of new development.
Phase 1 of Redevelopment
In 2001, Barrie House, a 21-story apartment block, was taken down. This marked the start of Phase 1 of the regeneration. New homes were built on this site, and 86 new homes were completed in 2005. These homes included both social rented housing and shared ownership homes. Also, six other apartment blocks were updated inside and out. The old Oak Tree Community Centre was replaced with a new, much larger one, which opened in 2007.
Phase 2 of Redevelopment
Phase 2.1 started in 2008. It will create 129 new homes, including some designed for wheelchair users. These homes will also be a mix of rented and shared ownership units. Phase 2.2 will add another 127 homes.
Choosing a Partner for the Future
Because the first phase took a while, the council decided to try a new way forward. Instead of doing small projects one by one, they chose one main developer. This partner will help build or update all future parts of the estate. Their goal is to bring a complete new vision for South Acton to life. People have called this a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to create a completely new feel for this part of West London.
South Acton in Popular Culture
South Acton has appeared in many TV shows and movies:
- The TV show "How the Other Half Lives" on Channel 4 showed a family living on the South Acton estate.
- Beaumaris Tower, on the estate, was used as the fictional home of Del Boy in the famous sitcom Only Fools and Horses.
- Charles Hocking House can be seen at the start of an episode of Steptoe and Son.
- Parts of the movies Aliens (1986) and Batman (1989) were filmed inside the old Acton power station.
- The musician M.I.A has said that one meaning of her stage name is "Missing in Acton," as she grew up there.
- The famous band The Who are from Acton.
- The 1994 British drama Ladybird Ladybird, directed by Ken Loach, was filmed around Acton.
- 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
