Ealing Council has announced that it will not pursue the redevelopment of the Perceval House site. This was mutually agreed with the council's development partner for the site, Vistry Group.

The council has decided to retain and retrofit the building, with the aim of creating an office building and community space that is fit for the future.

This plan includes opening up the ground floor for community use, while also considering offering two floors to businesses for leasing. However, three floors will be kept as offices for council staff and for democratic functions.

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Council leader Peter Mason said the decision was the right decision and removed years of uncertainty and new risk to the council. He said: "When we inherited the old plans for Perceval House, it was clear that the proposals represented a huge change for the borough, one with a big financial commitment and many years of disruption. With the old scheme now at an end, we can turn our minds to reimagining a new council building, open to the public, accessible to resident’s needs, inclusive, and with the community at the heart of it."

He added “Very soon, we will start engagement with both residents and staff to open-up the building, creating a modern, accessible, and welcoming environment for the whole community."

The risks and viability of the redevelopment scheme have significantly changed since it was initially proposed in 2014, due to major events that have occurred since then.

The one thing that is NOT mentioned is the opposition to the project and possible legal action.

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Ealing Council Chief Executive Tony Clements said the decision was a key enabler for the organisation and its culture. He said: "We know that we need to make a shift in our working culture and practices to deliver on the ambitions of the Council Plan and deliver great services for the people of Ealing. At the heart of this are council staff and their interactions with each other and our communities. We need a building that reflects those requirements, and we believe this can be achieved by staying where we are and retrofitting Perceval House for the future."

The Friends of Victoria Hall website says "Since July 2016, Ealing Council has spent £2m trying to dispose of the Victoria Hall and the Prince's Hall to hotel developers."

"On 23 April 2021 two local people on behalf of the Friends of the Victoria Hall launched a legal challenge through the Charity Tribunal."

This was done because "Ealing Council and the Charity Commission have let down the people of the Borough. The case was heard in a long-delayed hearing between 20 and 22 February."

Then Ealing Council changed it’s position. A decision was expected to be handed down later in 2023 by the Charity Tribunal.

So, Ealing Council wasted £2m by not listening to the residents.