Exchange Plaza London, UK
Exchange Plaza brings a new mixed-use development incorporating PBSA and Office uses to the heart of Ealing, revitalising a current vacant brownfield site.
The scheme introduces a high-quality standard of living and amenity space for students in the local area to support the growing University campus of West London and free up private rented houses for local families.
Together with this, Ealing Plaza will deliver high quality flexible and affordable office space which serves the SME target market, incorporating circa 7600sqm of office space, of which 400sqm is affordable, co-working space to support start-ups and entrepreneurs and is delivered free at the point of use.
The principle of the design was therefore to use the consented massing as a base, but redistribute the volume across the site to suit both the programmatic and urban design considerations.
This included providing some additional height to the corner of the site that was recognised as a key nodal point and marker that sits between West Ealing and Ealing town centre.
Public Realm
A proposed new and generous public realm has been designed to serve the local community of Ealing, providing hard and soft landscaping with seating and external space to support ground floor uses. This was created by setting the proposed building back from the previous consent to extend the pavement widths to the perimeter, whilst maintaining views through to the locally listed fire station
A feature of the scheme is the inclusion of 144sqm of flexible community space located in a prime location on the corner of St Leonard’s and Uxbridge Road.
This space is envisioned as a flexible amenity and community space, which can be hired at zero cost by the local community for a large range of different activities and functions.
Innovation
Together with maintaining a zero loss of commercial space based on the previously demolished office building, the incorporation of additional student accommodation is highly innovative and reflects the changing nature of the local context and the growth of The University of West London.
The scheme supports community use and office start up space by providing accommodation free at the point of use, with specific target accommodation to support SME companies which is currently limited in the town centre.
There is a substantial unmet demand for PBSA across London which is driving rents to unaffordable levels and pushing students into the privately rented housing market, absorbing homes that would otherwise be available to those seeking to rent. This demand is especially prevalent in Ealing.
The delivery of PBSA bedrooms contributes to meeting housing need at a ratio of 2.5:1. 504 student rooms equals approximately 200 homes when calculated at the ratio set out in the NPPF and London Plan.
The scheme delivers affordable workspace for the community, free space for community use and 35% genuinely affordable student bedrooms.
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