After years of complaints from locals about unhygienic conditions, safety concerns and anti-social behaviour, North Acton Square – the public space next to North Acton Underground station – has undergone a major revamp aimed at making it safer and more welcoming for residents, workers and visitors.
Now, a new community-led project has transformed it into a hub for small businesses and local activity.
The initiative, led by The Republic – Community Projects in partnership with Ealing Council, the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), Imperial College London, and private developers, seeks to breathe new life into the area while supporting local enterprise.
At the centre of the redevelopment are six converted shipping containers, designed by architects Christian Senkpiel and Tomato Studio, that now host a range of independent businesses: Awakener coffee, Hamsa the Barber, Sound Burger street food, the Old Oak Tap micro pub, a design-led retail shop, and an information hub for the Park Royal Design District.
Alongside the trading units, a Village Hut built from recycled materials at Park Royal’s Minerva Works Circular Economy Hub provides a flexible space for meetings, workshops and events. The project also includes new landscaping, planting, graffiti removal and improved lighting to enhance safety and accessibility.
Matthew Carpen, chief executive of OPDC, said the project supports “the small businesses that are the backbone of the area,” while Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal of Ealing Council said the improvements would “create new prospects for businesses and jobs for local people.”
