Ealing Council has appointed world renowned architects HOK and John McAslan and partners to improve the design of the proposed Ealing Broadway and Southall Crossrail stations.

For Ealing Broadway, HOK has been asked to review and amend plans drawn up by Crossrail. New designs will seek to improve the look and feel of the station building. This will include redesigning the canopy and façade of the proposed station so that it is visually more striking, creates more of a landmark and enhances the surrounding area.

The council has been working closely with Crossrail on the emerging designs for all five stations in Ealing and has already secured some significant improvements to the interior designs for Ealing Broadway, including lifts so that the station is fully accessible, as well as the adaption of designs so that retail premises are better located within the station. The council recognises this is a difficult site, because the station is not free-standing, built underneath the Villiers House office tower and is hemmed in by other buildings. However, the council is unhappy with the plans for the exterior of the station and believes that the façade and entrance need to have a more innovative design and use more interesting materials.

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Ealing Broadway is further along the Crossrail project process than the borough’s four other stations (Acton, West Ealing, Hanwell and Southall). The council’s planning department has received plans from Crossrail for the latest stage of the Ealing Broadway scheme. It is hoped that agreement on the station’s design can be reached as quickly as possible so that the plans can be considered without delay.

At Southall Station, council-employed architects John McAslan and partners will work with Crossrail to improve both the visual appearance of the station and make it as easy as possible for passengers to use. In particular, the council wants to harness the station’s contribution to the wider regeneration of the area, including proposed developments at Southall Gas Works, Middlesex Business Park and the town centre sites.

Councillor Julian Bell leader of the council, said: "We know that Crossrail will bring huge economic benefits to the borough and accelerate the regeneration already taking place. But the council is also determined to ensure that we get the best possible station designs, because they will be significant buildings in our town centres and experience shows good design brings greater regeneration benefits.

"We have had lots of success influencing the interior plans for the station and I firmly believe we can work with Crossrail to develop an innovative design that will significantly improve what is proposed without significantly increasing costs or delaying construction by even a day."

(CD/MH)