Campaigners are urging residents to oppose plans for seven tower blocks near Grove Farm Nature Reserve in Greenford, warning the development could damage protected woodland, wildlife habitats and one of Ealing’s most important green spaces.
The Friends of Grove Farm group has launched a public campaign against planning application 261463FUL for the proposed Park View Place scheme on Greenford Road in Greenford.
The application proposes a residential-led mixed-use and phased development featuring residential flats and co-living accommodation across seven blocks, alongside community space, commercial units, landscaping and green infrastructure.
Plans submitted to Ealing Council also include a convenience retail store, private and communal amenity areas, car and cycle parking, and infrastructure to support a future pedestrian bridge connection to Grove Farm Park.
The site earmarked for development is currently a disused car park.
If approved, the scheme would deliver 542 flats ranging from one to three bedrooms. Of those, 407 homes would be sold at market rate, while 135 would be classed as affordable housing — around 25 per cent of the development and below the 35 per cent affordable housing level typically sought under London planning policy.
Alongside the standard residential accommodation, the plans also include 340 co-living units.
Consultation material published by the developers describes the site as a brownfield location intended to help meet local housing demand. Earlier redevelopment schemes for the site were approved in 2020 and 2022 but were never built because of what developers described as “viability challenges”.
Developers have also said the latest proposals would include around 40 per cent public open space, more than 100 newly planted trees and fewer trees affected compared with previously approved schemes.
The Park View Place scheme is linked to developer Laverne Holdings, which is owned by Interland.
However, the proposals have sparked significant opposition from environmental campaigners and local residents concerned about the impact on Grove Farm’s Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).
According to Friends of Grove Farm, four towers ranging from 11 to 16 storeys would directly affect the reserve, with three partially built within the protected boundary itself.
In a statement published online, Friends of Grove Farm said: “We at Friends of Grove Farm, have been calling on Ealing Council and developers Interland to urgently reconsider latest proposals for Park View Place.
“The plans currently place four high-rise towers – ranging from 10-16 storeys – on one or both the Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) which covers one of the borough’s most ecologically valuable sites: Grove Farm Local Nature Reserve.”
In a separate message sent to residents, the group described the planning application as “unfortunately bad news” and urged people to formally object to the proposals, sign a petition and raise awareness about the scheme ahead of the consultation deadline.
Campaigners claim the development would result in the loss of 0.27 hectares of broadleaf woodland, damage to Coston’s Brook through the construction of retaining walls, and the destruction of one badger sett while forcing the temporary closure of another.
The group also says the plans would harm bats through increased light pollution, reduced food sources and disruption to a wildlife commuting corridor connected to the wider landscape.
Campaigners further argue that sections of the reserve would become permanently overshadowed, reducing biodiversity in the area.
According to Friends of Grove Farm, construction linked to the development would also require the removal of 158 trees.
Friends of Grove Farm said: “Grove Farm is one of Ealing’s last remaining wild spaces and is home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife including bats, badgers, owls and rare plants.”
The group added: “This development threatens to cause irreversible damage to the nature reserve and the surrounding environment.”
Friends of Grove Farm also stated: “Mature trees and native plants are crucial for controlling urban heat and improving air quality, thus providing natural services essential for community health and well-being.”
As of 26 May 2026, documents published on Ealing Council’s planning portal showed 74 public comments had been submitted on the application, including 72 objections and two supporting comments.
Residents opposing the plans have raised concerns about the height and scale of the proposed towers and the potential impact on the nature reserve.
One objection submitted by a resident from Matthews Road stated: “The proposed towers backing on to Grove Farm range from 10 to 16 storey. At such heights they will dominate Grove Farm’s skyline, casting deep shadows, introducing light pollution, and permanently altering the peaceful character of this cherished green space.”
Another resident objecting to the scheme described Grove Farm as “vital for the local ecology” and said the reserve “must be protected whatever the cost”.
The objection added: “There is still wide scope for further development in Greenford Quays, where entire sites are still sitting empty and once developed would have nothing like the impact on nearby natural areas like the proposed development would on Grove Farm.”
A further objection submitted to the council raised concerns over “the shadowing effect onto the meadows and nursery”, increased light pollution and wind tunnels generated by tall buildings.
The resident also questioned whether the development reflected the borough’s actual housing needs, adding that “Covid times showed how valuable outdoor space and access to nature is to people’s mental health and wellbeing”.
However, not all responses to the plans have opposed the scheme.
One supporting comment described the application as “a key proposal in meeting Ealing Council’s housing targets” and argued the development would help deliver affordable housing and new community facilities for North Greenford.
The supporter wrote: “This development would make up a large proportion of Ealing’s yearly housing target and provide significant opportunity to not only help Ealing Council play its part in confronting the housing crisis, but to improve community facilities in the area.”
The supporting submission also argued the development would regenerate “what is currently an abandoned car park and eyesore in the local area”.
Friends of Grove Farm says it is not opposed to development entirely but wants significant changes made to the proposals to better protect the reserve.
Campaigners are calling for no buildings to be constructed within the SINC boundary or within a 15-metre buffer zone, for building heights near the reserve to be reduced to no more than six storeys, and for mature trees, woodland embankments and habitats to be retained and protected.
The group added: “We’re asking for sensible, respectful development that coexists with one of Ealing’s beautiful wild spaces.”
Residents have until 3 June 2026 to submit comments on the application through Ealing Council’s planning portal before the proposals are considered by the council’s planning committee at a later date.
