THE FINAL stamp of approval has been given to a hugely contentious housing development for Southall.
The Gasworks development, earmarked for The Straight, will see up to 3,750 homes built, 30 per cent of which will be affordable.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson gave final approval to the scheme, which will be developed by National Grid, last week.
The development will also include a new primary school, health-centre, office, retail and leisure facilities.
There are also plans to make use of outdoor areas at the site and convert them into pitches for sports like football and cricket.
The canal will be rejuvenated, with access along the water and across into nearby Minet Country Park.
Final approval for the scheme also coincides with a presentation on Southall's potential, for both housing and business, at the Place West London summit last week.
Phil Edward, head of sales and letting at National Grid spoke about the company's vision for the site in a presentation entitled 'Building On Success'.
He said: “We are trying to get the forgotten part of Southall and integrate it back with the rest of the area.
“Southall is one of those places that can be an incredibly dynamic, with a changing history, and the Gasworks development is just another part of it.”
At a meeting at City Hall earlier this year, the Mayor's called in the proposal for another look after it was rejected by Ealing Council's planning committee. The move attracted fierce protest from residents.
