Consultation with local residents and businesses through the ‘Southall Big Conversation’ and the ‘Southall Charter’ recognises that Southall is already a successful area. It is a national and international shopping destination for Asian goods; people like the range of independent shops, the ethnic diversity and the many treasured local heritage buildings. These strengths should not be lost.
However the area also needs to change. Local people and businesses want high quality and affordable new homes in a range of sizes, more mainstream comparison shopping, a stronger high street offer through the heart of Southall leading to the railway station, improved walking and cycling routes and changes to junctions and bridges to improve vehicle access.
From 2019, Crossrail will make Southall one of the best connected places in London. Southall has enough under used land to create more than 6,000 new homes and 3,000 new jobs over the next twenty years.
The Southall OAPF sets out how new development, accelerated by Crossrail – 10 minutes to Heathrow, 17 minutes to Tottenham Court Road and 31 minutes to Canary Wharf – can be managed to maximise the potential of the area for the benefit of existing and new residents and businesses. This document identifies key development sites close to the railway station, town centre and high streets, road network and the Grand Union Canal which are ideal to support growth.