New Bid to Close Marie’s Store in Acton Green

'Flawed' application seeks to convert Cunnington Street premises into flats

Marie's Store has been subject to closure threat before

March 21, 2026

The future of Marie’s Store in Acton Green has become uncertain once again after a new proposal was submitted to Ealing Council to convert the shop into two flats. It is understood that the freeholder has given notice that Marie’s lease, which is due to expire in June, will not be removed and she has been asked to vacate the premises.

Marie moved to the UK from Zambia at the age of eighteen, and she has run the shop on the corner of Cunnington Street and Antrobus Road for at least two decades. For many residents, the store is more than a place to buy essentials. It is a familiar meeting point and one of the few remaining independent corner shops in Chiswick. Marie also lives on the premises, so it is understood that the closure of the shop would mean the loss of both her business and her home.

This is not the first time the shop has faced the threat of closure. In 2013, a previous plan to demolish the building and replace it with flats was withdrawn after a strong community campaign. Residents organised a petition, arguing that the shop had been at the heart of the area for many years and played an important social role. The campaign attracted political support at the time, including from the then MP Angie Bray and local councillors such as Gary Malcolm. Their involvement helped to secure a reprieve for the shop, and Marie continued trading.

The new proposal has revived many of the same concerns. Some residents are worried about losing a small, independent shop that serves people who rely on being able to buy everyday items close to home. Others are troubled by the suggestion in the application that the shop is empty, which they believe misrepresents the situation. There is also a wider anxiety that the gradual loss of small commercial spaces will erode the character of Acton Green, where corner shops and small parades contribute to the area’s sense of community.

The application has been made under a fast track process that allows commercial premises to be turned into housing. An objector has pointed out that documents submitted with the application makes the inaccurate claim that the unit is vacant. In fact the shop continues to trade and those hoping to save the shop believed this ‘flawed’ application must be rejected on this basis.

Cllr Malcolm said, "It is very sad when a local shop closes especially since they have been here for decades. I remember when the Liberal Democrats worked to save the shop from closure when the landlord wanted to convert the shop into flats. I hope another shop can replace Marie's store."

You can make comments on the application by visiting the planning section of the Ealing Council web site and searching for reference: 260904PACBSD.