Ealing Council has approved how £7.3 million will be allocated to improving the areas surrounding the borough’s five Crossrail stations.

This is in addition to complementary funding that Ealing Council has identified for works around the Ealing Broadway and Southall Stations.

The council was awarded the money from Transport for London’s (TfL) Crossrail Complementary Measures (CCM) fund after a successful bid – and it represents close to one quarter of the total £28.5 million pot made available for the capital.

It will be spent on improving the areas immediately around Acton Main Line, Ealing Broadway, Hanwell, Southall and West Ealing stations. The funding will be allocated over the four financial years 2015/16 to 2018/19 in line with arrangements agreed between TfL and London boroughs.

Initial designs have been drawn up which will be subject to further consultation but the projects could mean better facilities such as cycle parking and seating, as well as improved accessibility to stations, through better layout and enhanced station forecourts.

Pat Hayes, regeneration and housing executive director, said: "This money will improve the environment around all the Crossrail stations and make using them a more pleasurable experience. The programme is a good example of the broader benefits the council has been able to secure from Crossrail."

Crossrail means that residents will be able to get from Ealing Broadway to central London in only 11 minutes and to Canary Wharf in just 26, which will allow more people to get to Ealing Broadway’s workplaces, shops, offices and parks more quickly.

A small amount of work may start this year, on lighting, CCTV, and enhanced crossing works to the south of Hanwell Station, and further improvements would take place at a later date following public consultations.

David Rowe, Crossrail head of borough projects and programmes, said: "We look forward to starting work in Ealing and bringing the advantages of an improved transport to another borough. Crossrail will be integrated as part of the TfL network providing a fast, frequent service linking the east and west and relieving congestion on some of the busiest Tube lines."

"Coupled with this, we are providing £28.5 million of support to Ealing and other boroughs along the route to ensure that the areas outside of the stations are safer and more pleasant from the first day of operating the new services. These improvements will mean better facilities for those arriving on foot, by bike, by bus or by other means."