Congratulations to all at The John Lewis Partnership for their commitment and courage in finally attaining a well deserved approval in West Ealing.

As appointed development and project managers for the scheme, aspireDM Development Management note several key takeaways from the inspector’s report on how to successfully develop and present a scheme through our ‘challenging’ planning system:

1. Strong design-led approach with contextual sensitivity responding intelligently to both policy and urban context.

2. Robust engagement with policy and evidence base.

3. Pre-emptively address potential objections on ‘prematurity’ by showing how other local permissions already contradict an emerging plan.

4. High-quality visual and technical evidence lending the scheme credibility and transparency.

5. Optimising site potential within policy constraints to make best use of a constrained brownfield site, aligning with national, regional, and local expectations for urban intensification near transport nodes.

6. Effective affordable housing offer as a significant positive — especially against a backdrop of very low delivery.

7. Careful handling of heritage and visual impact demonstrating no harm to designated or non-designated heritage assets.

8. Well-prepared s106 agreement and conditions ensuring policy compliance without being excessive.