In 1967 it became possible, under the Civic Amenities Act, for local authorities to designate localities as conservation areas. The London Borough of Ealing was one of the first to take advantage of this and in 1969 the Hanger Hill Garden Estate, along with six other areas in the Borough, was declared a Conservation Area.

Policies were drawn up which aimed at protecting the unusual and aesthetic qualities of the Estate, with the preservation of trees, hedges and the Tudor-style detailing being regarded of prime importance. Generally close control would be exercised over any new developments, and any obtrusive development which could mar the beauty and symmetry of the Estate would not be allowed.

The designation of the Estate as a Conservation Area was welcomed by the then residents' association, the Hanger Hill Garden Estate (Acton) Residents' Association. However, and perhaps inevitably, in the immediate years that followed, a tiny minority of residents - often living on the Estate for a short time only - showed scant regard for the uniqueness of the area. One house was painted pink! A flat-roofed dormer appeared on the front roof of another house. Several houses had "picture windows" installed. A number of balconies were filled in. At the top of Princes Gardens, a tall chimney stack was removed from an end-of-terrace house and a side loft extension built, destroying the roof line and the balance of this row of homes.

Not surprisingly, many residents expressed their concern about these various departures, especially through the forum of the Residents' Association, which urged Ealing Council "to take the appropriate powers to prevent uncharacteristic alterations and developments to our attractive environment". In particular the issue was debated at the April 1973 Annual General Meeting of the Residents' Association, with a sample survey of residents' views being carried out in January 1974.

At the 1973 AGM., the Residents' Association was reformed as the Hanger Hill Garden Estate Residents' Association to cover the whole of the Conservation Area (ie all the houses and flats), with one of its prime objectives being "to protect the Conservation Area and to oppose any further development detrimental to the area".

Pressure on the question of conservation was kept up on Ealing Council throughout 1974. In March 1975 the Council responded to the overwhelming wishes of the residents of Hanger Hill Garden Estate Conservation Area by making a Direction under Article 4 of the Town and Country Planning General Order 1973, extending the powers of the Council to control alterations in the Conservation Area. Quoting from the Residents' Association newsletter of March 1975:

"Effective1y the Council has withdrawn the general permission that householders normally have to do certain things on or to their property, and planning permission is now required for the following work:
  (a) Any alteration to the external appearance of a house on the Estate i.e. any extension, addition of dormer window, picture window or changes to the roof.
  (b) Any porch or alteration to the front door.
  (c) Any hard standing for parking off the road.
  (d) Any repainting of the outside of any house, fence or garage i.e. half-timbering, plastered wall, brickwork, window frames etc."

The newsletter continued:

"It may appear to be absurdly bureaucratic that planning permission is now required before you can repaint your house, but in 99% of cases this will be a formality that can quickly be complied with by consulting the Council's town planning officers, who will not object provided the colour is white with black timbers. Unfortunately, it is the only way to prevent the odd crank from painting his house purple, or parking four cars in the front garden with a six foot fence around it, or building a glass and concrete extension at the side or on top of his house. As we have said before, the purpose of these controls is to preserve the character of the Estate and thus conserve the added value that each individual house commands because it is part of a unified and attractive Estate... Some will view this as an encroachment on their rights and liberties but we hope that most will appreciate that these increased powers will be sympathetically exercised in the interests of the majority to preserve our Conservation Area".

A further safeguard was provided in 1974 by the passing of the Town and Country Amenities Act, under which planning permission is necessary for the demolition or alteration of any building within a conservation area. Further under this legislation, six weeks' notice in writing must be given to the local planning authority by any person wishing to cut down, lop, top or uproot any tree, and the Council has powers either to make a Tree Preservation Order or to require replacement planting.

However, three years on, it seemed that some residents were still not clear on the concepts of the Hanger Hill Garden Estate Conservation Area. So much so, that the Residents' Association felt it necessary to spell out the position at length in two newsletters in 1978. The Residents' Association has continued to issue advice ever since.

So the Hanger Hill Garden Estate Conservation Area survives and thrives to this day. Long may it continue! To further appreciate the beauty of our Estate, please visit the Photo Library.