Campaigners Question Ealing Council Progress on Victoria Hall Scheme Ealing 2026

Key Points

• Regulator’s Ongoing Monitoring: The Charity Commission confirmed that it will continue monitoring Ealing Council’s progress with implementing the agreed plan for Victoria Hall.
• No Progress Made Allegedly: Friends of Victoria Hall campaign group stated that there had not been much progress made since the First-tier Tribunal judgment back in November 2025, specifically, in terms of property boundaries and discussions with the developer Mastcraft.
• Advisory Committee Meeting Rescheduled: The 30 September 2026 meeting of the Victoria Hall Trust Advisory Committee was cancelled by Ealing Council due to administrative oversight and the next scheduled meeting could only be found in May 2027 on the council website.
• Concerns over Community Access: Campaigners stated that the booking criteria planned to be introduced would limit community access to discounts on weekends and would not allow local branches of the national organisations access to the venue.
• Meeting with the Regulator Organised: The charity confirmed that an informal meeting with the Charity Commission was held after the cancellation of the Victoria Hall Trust Advisory Committee.

uk/local/ealing/">Ealing (West London Times) October 12, 2026 – The Charity Commission has confirmed that it is actively monitoring Ealing Council’s progress over the future of Victoria Hall, amid growing frustration from local campaigners who argue the local authority has failed to adequately safeguard the historic venue’s charitable status during plans to convert parts of Ealing Town Hall into a boutique hotel.

Why Are Campaigners Questioning Ealing Council’s Progress over Victoria Hall?

As reported by Ben Simons of EALING.NEWS, the Friends of Victoria Hall have raised concerns that little progress has been achieved since a key First-tier Tribunal ruling in November 2025. The tribunal confirmed that while a regulator-approved scheme was the viable path forward, the Charity Commission had not formally approved Ealing Council’s 2019 agreement with hotel developer Mastcraft.

Under the terms of the tribunal-backed scheme, the Victoria Hall Trust Advisory Committee was assigned explicit responsibilities to determine which physical areas of Ealing Town Hall belong to the charitable trust and to oversee the renegotiation of terms within the agreement that impact the charity. The tribunal further clarified that the trust is not bound by the council’s 2019 agreement in matters governed by charity law.

Despite these stipulations, campaigners maintain that Ealing Council has demonstrated no clear evidence of identifying trust property or renegotiating the developer lease.

As reported by Ben Simons of EALING.NEWS, Roger Green, Chair of the Friends of Victoria Hall, stated:

“We’re delighted that the Charity Commission has opened an inquiry. While not necessarily agreeing with court verdict over the proposed sale of the Hall, we are concerned that Ealing Council is showing no sign of properly complying with the judges’ rulings. The Advisory Committee hasn’t met since December last year and has no further meetings scheduled until May 2027.”

Mr Green further highlighted that council officers continue to draft the reports and recommendations presented to the advisory committee, raising doubts over how much independent oversight has been exercised during long gaps between sessions.

As reported by Ben Simons of EALING.NEWS, Roger Green stated:

“The Advisory Committee must get down to work and recognise the verdict of the court. It is not bound by agreements that the Council has made and it should renegotiate the 2019 lease, especially the limited access that the community would have to the Victoria Hall were it to become part of a luxury hotel along with the rest of the Town Hall.”

What Is the Charity Commission’s Official Position on the Dispute?

Clarifying its involvement, the regulator indicated that it has not launched a new statutory inquiry, but rather continues to oversee compliance with the framework authorised in late 2024.

As reported by Ben Simons of EALING.NEWS, a Charity Commission spokesperson stated:

“We made a scheme for Victoria Hall which the appeal court agreed was the only viable way forward for the charity. We continue to monitor the charity’s progress in implementing that scheme, so our compliance case is ongoing.”

The regulatory body confirmed that senior officials met directly with campaigners from the Friends of Victoria Hall on 17 August 2026, following formal correspondence submitted by the group between March and May 2026.

Why Was the Victoria Hall Trust Advisory Committee Meeting Cancelled?

Tensions heightened after a scheduled meeting of the Victoria Hall Trust Advisory Committee, set for 30 September 2026, was removed from the council’s public schedule and listed as cancelled.

As reported by Ben Simons of EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson stated:

“The meeting was cancelled due to an administrative error and to use the time constructively a meeting was held with the Charity Commission. A new date will be put into everyone’s diary as soon as possible with the highlights of the Charity Commission discussion presented at the next Victoria Hall Trust Advisory meeting.”

The Charity Commission confirmed to media representatives that the discussion on 30 September took place, but noted there was no further update to disclose publicly. Ealing Council has not yet published a rescheduled date for the advisory committee or released specific details regarding the matters discussed with the regulator.

How Would the Proposed Hotel Development Impact Community Access?

The broader redevelopment plans negotiated between Ealing Council and developer Mastcraft involve converting significant portions of the Grade II-listed Ealing Town Hall into a 120-bedroom boutique hotel featuring leisure facilities, bars, and restaurants, with the local authority retaining designated areas for municipal functions.

Victoria Hall and the adjacent Prince’s Hall, both situated within the building, are held in trust specifically for the benefit of local residents. The site has remained closed to the public since October 2023, when Ealing Town Hall was shut down over municipal health and safety concerns. Prior to the closure, the venue hosted community meetings, public performances, and cultural events.

While Ealing Council has previously stated that Victoria Hall will remain accessible for local community hire at discounted rates, campaigners have questioned the practicality and fairness of the proposed booking framework.

According to figures cited by the Friends of Victoria Hall, the proposed terms would restrict community groups from accessing discounted hire rates between Friday afternoons and Monday mornings. Furthermore, local branches affiliated with national organizations could be excluded from eligibility entirely, while allowable discount schemes would be limited to a fixed number of years. Campaigners also warned that structural alterations intended to accommodate the hotel development would reduce the physical footprint available for larger public gatherings.

Explore more Ealing News:

Ealing Council Issues Zero E-Bike Fines Ealing 2026

Ealing’s new hate crime strategy aims to rebuild trust and encourage reporting 

Background of the Victoria Hall Redevelopment Plan

Victoria Hall was established in the late 19th century through private donations and community fundraising, creating a dedicated civic space held in trust for the benefit of Ealing residents. Over time, the management of the hall became intertwined with Ealing Town Hall operations under Ealing Council as the sole corporate trustee.

In 2019, Ealing Council entered into an agreement with hotel developer Mastcraft to lease major portions of the Town Hall for commercial conversion into a boutique hotel. Because Victoria Hall is protected by charitable trust status, any disposal or major lease altering its original intent required formal approval from the Charity Commission under UK charity law.

In September 2024, the Charity Commission established a regulatory scheme intended to enable the development while safeguarding charitable assets. This scheme was subsequently challenged by local campaigners, leading to a First-tier Tribunal ruling in November 2025. The tribunal dismissed the appeal and upheld the scheme, but expressly clarified that the trust was not bound by the council’s 2019 commercial agreement and tasked the Trust Advisory Committee with independently establishing trust property boundaries and renegotiating relevant lease terms.

How This Development May Affect Local Residents and Community Groups

The ongoing regulatory monitoring and administrative delays surrounding Victoria Hall are likely to prolong the operational hiatus of one of Ealing’s primary civic venues. For local community groups, arts organisations, and residents, the continued closure since October 2023 limits access to affordable, large-scale assembly spaces in central Ealing.

If the lease terms renegotiated by the Advisory Committee retain the contested access restrictions, local non-profit groups may face increased venue costs or be forced to hold weekend events elsewhere. Conversely, should the Charity Commission enforce stricter compliance regarding trust boundaries, Ealing Council and Mastcraft may be required to revise commercial terms, potentially delaying the completion of the Town Hall boutique hotel project.