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Penny whistle Ealing tower is reduced to a halfpenny
Mira Bar-Hillel, Property Correspondent30 Jul 2008
Plans for the Ealing "Penny Whistle" tower have been scaled back significantly to comply with Boris Johnson's policies on suburban skyscrapers.
Developer Glenkerrin withdrew Lord Foster's original scheme in April following scathing criticism by the Government's conservat ion and design watchdogs.
The Mayor cited the tower earmarked for Ealing Broadway as an example of the kind of suburban development he had pledged to oppose.
Now a new slimline tower, also designed by Foster and Partners, is only 24 storeys, compared with 40. Other buildings in the development, which ranged between eight and 15 storeys, are between seven and nine.
Glenkerrin spokesman Gabriel Abulafia said: "The site is key to the future of Ealing town centre and it is important for local people and businesses to have their say.
"We will be carefully examining the feedback and also expect a lot more comment through the website as well as from the large number of people who asked for further information."
The 470ft Penny Whistle would have been one of the tallest buildings for miles around but angered residents who thought it inappropriate for the "Queen of Suburbs"-Their concerns were endorsed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, which concluded the proposal was not of the standard Ealing deserved and recommended planning permission be refused.
An Ealing council spokeswoman said: "We are expecting a revised planning application this autumn."
