A charity will press ahead with building on Northfields Allotments despite fierce opposition from campaigners who will "deeply regret" losing an area of the site.
Pathways, which owns the land in Northfield Avenue, will build on what is claimed to be London's oldest allotment site to create more social housing for vulnerable older residents.
At a public consultation held on Saturday (November 12) Pathways said it would build on 5% of the site, down from the original 10%.
A total of 15 affordable units will be built on the site adjoining Mattock Lane, and parking provisions have been removed from the original plans.
The 350-year-old charity, which said there will be no future development on the allotments, also said any lost plots will be reallocated and any plot holder affected will be guaranteed a new one.
But campaigners for the historic site, which campaigners claim gardeners have used since 1832, remain unhappy that any of the site is being lost at all.
Northfields resident Ian Burge, who has been a plot holder on the site for more than three years, said: "In terms of the reduction we are pleased to see that it is going in that direction.
"But really we deeply regret losing any of the site. It is a shame that some of them will lose their site.
"There is a sense of community as well, 141 plot holders on the site, but the number of people is close to 250 people who use the site, people from all walks of life.
"We have Indians, Americans, Eastern Europeans, several gay couples and a lot of diversity, it is a microcosm of London".
The charity said it is in discussions with the allotment users about funding improvements to the site, including improved communal facilities such as an upgraded tool shed.
It is not yet clear how many people will lose their plots, but Pathways says it has been in contact with anyone set to miss out.
Pathways chief executive, Clive Wilson, said: "This scheme is about redeveloping the Dean Court site to provide more affordable, modern properties to allow older people to live independently in their own homes for longer.
"Ealing is desperate for more social housing, there are over 11,000 people on the waiting list.
"Our proposals, which are still in the early stages, will mean that we’re able to improve and increase the amount of truly affordable housing for older people in the borough while limiting the loss of open space as much as possible".
Christina Fox, chairman of the Ealing Dean Allotment Society, said: "We know that many of Pathways’ trustees have years of experience in housing and urge them to find alternative solutions which do not involve sacrificing this historic site.
"Ealing is famed for its natural heritage and any reduction in the borough’s green spaces would be met with genuine regret by the local community".
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