PLANS for 852 homes in blocks of up to 25 storeys have been given the go-ahead in Acton.

Ealing Council's planning committee approved Transport for London's largest residential development to date, in a meeting last week.

The development at Bollo Lane will stretch from Acton towards Chiswick, with nearest TfL stations of Acton Town, Chiswick Park and South Acton.

The mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes will be spread across eight blocks between eight and 18 storeys and planning permission was also granted for up to 200 new homes to be built in a ninth block – a 25-storey building – referred to as 'Plot 3A'.

A total 453 homes will be for the private market, while 399 builds will be a mixture of affordable properties, including London Living Rent, London Affordable Rent, Discount Market Rent and Shared Ownership.

Of 648 comments received for the application on Ealing Council's website, 631 were objections.

Speaking against the proposal, South Acton ward councillor Josh Blacker said while residents accept the principle of developing the sites, it must be 'the right development' that will unlock benefits for existing and future residents in the area.

Cllr Blacker said his ward, Acton Gardens, has hosted a quarter of all new units being delivered in the entire borough, and that the 'most troubling' Plot 3A, is 25% higher than anything else approved in the area.

He added: "We've got 850 new units proposed in a ward of 10,000 residents, that's going to translate in at least a 10% uplift in the population in one sweep.

"The committee needs to satisfy itself, I mean interrogate properly, the impact of these additional units is not going to overwhelm local amenities."

He also flagged that what Ealing Council believes to be 'genuinely affordable housing', such as London Living Rent and London Affordable Rent, does not make up the majority of affordable housing on offer.

"A Discount Market Rent product aimed at those with a household income of up to £90,000 is clearly not going to help the 12,000 we have on the waiting lists," he said.

Speaking on behalf of residents, public speaker Craig Woodrow also told the committee that residents found the plans excessive and overbearing and would cause a loss of privacy and light.

He added: "It's not that we oppose the improvement of the area, we want the area to be improved, it is a corridor that isn't very pleasant at the moment.

"But we request the designs be reconsidered to be more socially conscious and take into account the residents' concerns especially the size of the buildings, that is one of our biggest issues.

"At the end of the day we're the ones that have to live with the consequences of your decisions."

A TfL representative however informed the committee more than 40,000 residents and businesses were consulted during the planning process for the development and there was clear support for making good use of the site for housing and employment.

On concerns over Plot 3A he explained a certain development needed to be delivered to be able to achieve high levels of affordable housing and 'significant' landscaping and public realm improvements.

Amid the plans, which also contain business use and commercial spaces on the ground floors of the residential units, councillors were also told new landscaping and tree planting will create immediate biodiversity gains.

The committee approved the development by 10 votes for, and three votes against.

Reacting to the approval, Jonathan Cornelius, head of property development at TfL, said: "It is fantastic news to get the go ahead for our plans at Bollo Lane in Acton Town.

"The proposals have been designed to reflect the area's heritage and context, such as the Grade II-listed station next to it and will bring hundreds of much-needed homes to this part of London.

"The scheme has also been designed to benefit the local community with welcoming green spaces, improvements to pedestrian and cycling facilities and new commercial opportunities for local businesses.

"Securing this latest green light at planning committee is an important milestone as it is the largest site on which we have secured planning ourselves.

"We will shortly be approaching the market for a partner as we strive to deliver these homes – including hundreds of new affordable homes – as fast as we can."