Changes to Be Made to Conservation Areas in Chiswick
Ealing Council plans altered boundaries in Acton Green and Bedford Park
Beaconsfield Estate to be taken out of Acton Green Conservation Area
November 18, 2025
Ealing Council’s review of conservation areas (CAs) in the borough includes proposals for some changes to boundaries in the Chiswick area.
The report prepared for the borough planning committee meeting on 19 November by Mark Price, Principal Heritage Officer, is suggesting a reduction of the Acton Green boundary that affects the Beaconsfield estate, and a recommended extension of Bedford Park into all of the Fielding and Blandford Roads east of the Avenue.
The houses in these sections of the roads are the same period and architectural style as those further east and were built at around the same period (1880/1881). The current CA boundary at this point follows a curious diagonal line at first looks arbitrary but council planners believe that it simply follows the historic field boundary of 1865.
The properties affected are: Include 35-55 (odds) & 38-68 (evens) Fielding Road, 38-50 (evens) Blandford Road, 33-43 (odds) & 40-56 (evens) The Avenue, Flats 1-57 (consecutive) Ormsby Lodge, The Avenue.
Acton Green’s proposed boundary reduction would remove the Beaconsfield Estate, which was built in 1973, from the conservation area. Officers argued that the Beaconsfield development — designed by the architects Hutchison, Locke and Monk — differs in character from the Victorian and Edwardian buildings that are typical of Acton Green and is not considered an exceptional example of the firm’s work.
Around 60% of consultees in the affected area supported the de-designation; opponents worried the small open triangle within the estate (the “Beaconsfield Triangle”) would lose protection. Council officers responded that the triangle lacks sufficient standalone historic or architectural merit to remain within the conservation area, though it will continue to enjoy protection under open space policies.
Officers say the 'Beaconsfield Triangle' is still protected by other regulations
In neighbouring Bedford Park, the review recommends expanding the conservation area to the west to include properties on Fielding Road and Blandford Road and Ormsby Lodge. Officers note these streets were built in the same style and period as the existing Bedford Park estate and received strong support during consultation: about 75% of respondents in the proposed extension area backed designation. The extension aims to close an anomaly in the Bedford Park boundary and better reflect the original estate’s footprint and coherence.
Boundary changes proposed in Bedford Park (left) and Acton Green (right)
The report says that the conclusions are based on local engagement: the review process included workshops with Conservation Area Advisory Panels, public drop-ins and targeted letters to affected properties during a consultation period which began at the end of 2023.
Officers say the Bedford Park extension will help preserve finely detailed late-Victorian and Edwardian domestic architecture and maintain the area’s characteristic terraces, stucco and ornamental details. Conversely, Acton Green’s reduction is presented as a pragmatic response to post-war infill and later redevelopment that no longer conveys the historic character the conservation area seeks to protect.
The committee also signalled further work on Article 4 Directions — planning controls that remove certain permitted development rights in conservation areas — so residents in both Chiswick and Bedford Park should expect additional consultation if the committee approves the proposed boundary amendments.
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