RESIDENTS, politicians and business leaders have been buoyed by signs Ealing's economy is beginning to pick up.
All agree there is a long way to go but new businesses and investment in the past few months have given cause for cheer.
The most recent development is the news that three new "quality retailers" will be moving into the ground floor of Lovelace House. It will be the first time the space would have been filled since the seven-storey building, the former site of the Daniel department store, was built in 2005.
Mainly flats, the two floors of retail space had been boarded up for years until the Gym Group moved into the first floor, opening in November.
This week Daniel, who own the building, announced plans to split the area into three large shops and said there was "demand from a variety of supermarket, hardware and leisure retailers to take the space."
David Highton, of West Ealing Neighbours, said: "I wish them good luck, it was an eyesore when it was boarded up. I think West Ealing has weathered the storms quite well. You don't see lots of boarded up shops, we've done better than that. It's tough out there but there's life in the high street yet."
The news follows the opening of Pret a Manger at the beginning of the month and asian restaurant Tuk Cho just after Christmas, both in Ealing Broadway.
And plans by the new owners of the Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, Wereldhave, who bought it off Legal and General just before Christmas, to inject new life into the area.
The company has promised to meet with the Gazette in the coming weeks to describe some of their plans, but this week managing director Andrew Turton, said: "As a long-term investor, we're looking forward to exploring the ways we can further enhance the centre’s offering, tapping into its potential to better meet the needs of those who live and shop in Ealing.”
All this comes with a Premier Inn being built, and construction soon to start on another hotel (along with homes) replacing Westel House, both will join the Travelodge in Uxbridge Road
While work on Dicken's Yard's to bring 100,000 sq ft of shops and restaurants and 698 apartments, as well as work to bring Crossrail in 2018, continues.
Matthew Sims, general manager of Ealing Chamber of Commerce, is cautiously optimistic. He said: "It's going to take time for businesses to get their confidence back. But it's wonderful to see signs that regeneration work in Ealing is starting to flourish, it's long overdue."
Council leader Julian Bell said he hoped the recent developments were a sign of good things to come.
He added: "Things are still challenging but there are positive things on the horizon. I think that's why long-term investment decisions are being made in Ealing. I don't think we should get carried away but this is hopefully going to be a virtuous circle, success breeds success."
