Northolt Post Office Redevelopment Plan Decided in Ealing 2026

Key Points

• Redevelopment Plans: There will be a decision made regarding the demolition and rebuilding of the Northolt Post Office located at 46 Mandeville Road, as part of the plans of Ealing Council.
• Expansion Details: This plan will result in the expansion of the area from 1,210.5 sqm to 7,258 sqm and will include a building of up to five storeys.
• Main Purpose: This project includes the creation of 500 self-storage units by Access Self Storage company as well as 357 sqm of retail.
• Protests: The local population and the Northolt Residents Association have objected more than 100 times.
• Reasons for Protest: The local population believes the construction to be inappropriate for a town centre and prefer the area to have residential housing and shops, as well as worrying about traffic and building size.
• Recommendation of Council: The planning officers recommend approving the application due to the current market situation making it unfeasible to construct any other type of property at the moment.
• Developer’s Solutions: In addition, the developer offered contributions via Section 106 in total sum of £430,470 for improvements in air quality, training, employment and workspace.

Northolt (Extra London News) August 18, 2026 – Ealing Council’s planning committee is poised to make a definitive decision this Wednesday, August 19, regarding a contentious redevelopment project at the Northolt Post Office site on 46 Mandeville Road. Despite vocal opposition from the local community, council documents reveal that planning officers have recommended that the committee grant approval for the demolition of the current site and the construction of a significantly larger facility.

Why is there significant public opposition to the Northolt Post Office redevelopment?

The proposal has ignited a strong reaction from the local community, with more than 100 formal objections recorded during the planning consultation process. As reported by Philip James Lynch, a Local Democracy Reporter for MyLondon, the primary criticism centres on the proposed use of the site for a large-scale self-storage facility.

Many residents have expressed that such a development is inappropriate for the heart of a town centre. Objectors argued that the project represents a “wasted opportunity to enhance [the] town centre,” suggesting that the prominent location should instead be utilised for “more local shops, a cafe and affordable housing… with flats above, providing homes for local people.”

The Northolt Residents Association has also been active in its opposition, highlighting broader concerns regarding the visual impact of the building’s scale—which is proposed to reach up to five storeys—and the potential for increased traffic congestion along the already busy Mandeville Road.

What is the official stance of local representatives regarding the site?

The resistance to the development extends to local governance. Chris Summers, a ward councillor for the area, has formally objected to the application. According to the report by Philip James Lynch for MyLondon, Councillor Summers expressed concerns that the “redevelopment of this landmark site should maximise the benefits of its location and not worsen existing traffic congestion on Mandeville Road.”

Councillor Summers further argued that a self-storage facility of this nature would likely draw additional traffic from the A40, suggesting that such a business would be “more appropriately located closer to the A40 junction” rather than within the community hub of Northolt.

How does Ealing Council respond to the calls for residential development?

While many residents advocate for a residential-led scheme, alignment with the council’s own long-term planning goals remains a point of friction. The site is currently included in the draft allocation for Ealing’s emerging Local Plan, which often prioritises housing.

However, as detailed in the documents cited by MyLondon’s Philip James Lynch, council officers have countered these arguments by noting that the emerging Local Plan has not yet been formally adopted and therefore carries limited weight in the current decision-making process. Furthermore, officers cited “ownership constraints, market conditions, and viability” as significant factors that would restrict the delivery of a residential-led development at this specific site in the near term.

Explore more Ealing News:

Ealing Ranks Lowest in London Food Hygiene Study 2026

Ealing Office Conversion Wins Decade-Long Legal Battle in Ealing 2026

What changes have been made to the original plans to appease residents?

In an attempt to address the visual and amenity concerns raised by the public, the applicant introduced a series of revisions to the scheme in November 2025 and April 2026. These amendments include:

• Retail Integration: Replacing planned ground-floor office space with active retail and cafe frontage to better serve the town centre.
• Privacy Protections: Removing all upper-floor windows on the rear of the building to prevent overlooking and protect the privacy of residents on Eastcote Lane and Moat Farm Road.
• Traffic Management: Redesigning the front public service road to operate as a one-way system, incorporating a dedicated 11-space ‘Stop & Shop Plus’ customer parking area.

The architecture itself has been designed with a “stepped” approach, moving from five storeys down to four, and finally to two storeys at the rear, a design choice intended to moderate the building’s impact on nearby low-rise homes.

What are the promised benefits of the Section 106 agreement?

To mitigate the impacts of the new, significantly larger building—which would increase the onsite floor space from 1,210.5 sqm to 7,258 sqm—the developer has entered into a Section 106 agreement. As reported by MyLondon, this agreement includes financial contributions totalling £430,470.

These funds are earmarked for several community-focused projects:

• £216,270 to support off-site affordable workspace.
• £73,180 to bolster the council’s Air Quality Action Plan measures.
• £50,000 to assist with local employment, training, and skills initiatives, specifically including the provision of two full apprenticeships and three work placements for local residents.

The planning committee’s decision on Wednesday will determine whether these concessions and the proposed architectural revisions are sufficient to override the substantial local opposition to the project.