Ealing's Victoria Hall Trust Committee has received an independent building survey confirming the extent of Trust property within Ealing Town Hall. This is significant because the Victoria Hall Trust's ownership of the Victoria Hall and Prince's Hall affects how lease premium and rental income are divided under the Mastcraft hotel deal. The Charity Commission Scheme mandates that the Trust's share of the total premium be calculated based on the proportion of floor area of Trust property relative to the wider Town Hall building.
The need for the independent building survey arose from the necessity to verify the extent of Trust property as a proportion of the entirety of the Ealing Town Hall, particularly in relation to the Mastcraft hotel deal. The survey was commissioned to clarify lease arrangements and commercial terms under the deal, as required by Part 2 of the Charity Commission Scheme.
The survey, commissioned to verify the Trust property's proportion of the entire building, was a key topic at the Victoria Hall Trust Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday, 11 December 2025. The survey confirmed that the Victoria Hall and the Prince's Hall account for 938m² of floor space, representing 14.47% of the total Town Hall area.
The current lease arrangements involve negotiations between the Victoria Hall Trust and the Ealing Council regarding the lease and premium apportionment as anticipated under the Scheme, related to the Mastcraft hotel deal. The survey results, which confirm that the Victoria Hall and the Prince's Hall account for 14.47% of the total Town Hall area, will be used as a baseline for these negotiations. The proportion of Town Hall floor area attributable to the Trust lies between 14.47% and 19.05%, depending on whether the disputed spaces are to be included in the calculation. Once a final position is agreed with the council, both current and historical accounts will be adjusted to reflect the agreed percentage, with any necessary corrections applied retrospectively.
The committee agreed that the survey provides independent verification of the floor area. They have authorised officers to negotiate final terms with the council regarding lease and premium apportionment, including appointing an independent valuer to ensure the Trust receives 'best consideration'.
The 'best consideration' refers to ensuring that the Trust receives the most favorable terms possible in the lease and premium apportionment negotiations with the council, particularly in relation to the Mastcraft hotel deal. An independent valuer will be appointed to review any offer from the council based on the agreed measurements to verify that any proposal is in the best interests of the Charity.
According to the Public Reports Pack, the survey measurements have been agreed upon by both Trust and council officers as a true and accurate representation of Ealing Town Hall.
Attendees at the meeting included Councillor Tariq Mahmood, Councillor Gareth Shaw, Councillor Connie Hersch, Helen Harris, Adam Whalley, Alice Rowland, Jessica Tamayao, and Cornelia Harding.
The date of the next meeting is to be confirmed.