A community group in North Greenford has called on the Mayor of London to halt plans to build a new development of tower blocks on a local wildlife site at Sudbury Hill.

Ancient woodland that borders Grove Farm Local Nature Reserve in Ealing will be destroyed if the Park View Place development goes ahead, say Friends of Grove Farm.

The development proposes five new tower blocks on Metropolitan Open Land and extends into a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) which borders Grove Farm.

These would be in addition to four tower blocks Park View Place developers have permission to build which local councillors and residents raised concerns about earlier this year due to the number of mature trees they will cut down and which Friends of Grove Farm believe "there are strong legal arguments against".

"Some of these are beautiful mature trees such as the Cracked Willow," a spokesperson for Friends of Grove Farm said.

"This tree is estimated to be at least 120 years old and provides a majestic backdrop to Grove Farm."

They added: "The towers in question will border Costons Brook which experts have suggested is likely to be harmed by the excavations, as well as pollutants from construction and habitation."

Ealing Council has come under fire in recent months for the number of new developments given the green light to build in the borough.

Critics of the high-rise developments include Rupa Huq, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, who recently warned new tower blocks of "rabbit hutch" flats threaten to ruin the Ealing skyline forever.

In response to pushback from local residents who dubbed Ealing a "mini Manhattan", the council announced in January that it would clamp down on tower block developments.

Since then, complaints from more than 400 residents have saved a popular green in Acton from development.

The extension of the Sudbury Hill development has received 101 comments from local residents. All are in opposition to the application, with many citing the loss of 166 trees as chief among their concerns. 

One resident wrote: "Trees are integral to combatting the rapidly growing issues of climate change and supporting wildlife; they also release life giving oxygen and help to combat pollution. 

"The loss of these trees will expose residents to even higher levels of pollution, being so close to busy congested roads. We should be SAVING existing trees, and planting more, NOT cutting them down.

Another wrote: "I object to this development because it goes totally against the London plan for cleaner air and green spaces."

However the majority of Councillors on Ealing's planning committee have approved construction on the SINC.

Friends of Grove Farm believe there are strong legal arguments against the current development which awaits final approval by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and have thrown their weight behind a crowdfunding campaign launched to finance legal advice on the issue.

For more details and to support the campaign CLICK HERE.

To examine the full extension proposed to Park View Place, search 213378FUL on Ealing Council's Planning Application database.