As 2026 gets underway, the leader of Hounslow Council has laid out an ambitious agenda for the borough, balancing significant regeneration opportunities with serious financial pressures.
In an exclusive interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat detailed priorities including a major new transport link, thousands of new homes, and the challenge of managing a £54 million budget gap.
Council Finances: Confidence Amid a £54m Challenge
Cllr Rajawat expressed strong confidence that Hounslow Council would avoid following other local authorities in applying to the Government for Exceptional Financial Support, despite the substantial budget shortfall identified for the 2026/27 financial year.
He attributed this confidence to the council's long-term strategy of building up financial reserves. "I'm quite pleased with the strategy that we've adopted over many years," Rajawat stated. "It gave us the headroom and the ability to dip into [reserves] when we need to, in a structured way."
However, he emphasised that using reserves is a last resort. The council is first focusing on organisational efficiency and exploring new income streams to bridge the gap while protecting frontline services. The leader confirmed the authority is also working to rebuild its reserves in coming years to fund long-term housing and regeneration plans.
Transport and Housing: Two Major Growth Projects
A key priority for 2026 is continuing to champion the West London Orbital extension to the London Overground network. The project, which would connect Hounslow to areas like Hendon, recently received a promise of £400,000 in funding from the Mayor of London to progress a business case this year.
"It is a longer term project but it's probably the cheapest out of all London transport infrastructure projects. We will continue to be at the forefront championing that," said Cllr Rajawat.
On housing, the leader highlighted Feltham as a primary growth area. A pivotal development is the planned regeneration of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) site, which the council has just entered into a public partnership with the MoD and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to deliver.
This ambitious, multi-year project is expected to provide at least 1,370 new homes and over 4,000 square metres of business space. Rajawat described it as an opportunity to "unlock the whole of Feltham," bringing new jobs and retail alongside the housing.
Reimagining the Golden Mile
The regeneration of Brentford's Golden Mile, or Great West Corridor, is also accelerating. The council recently approved plans to convert the iconic Gillette Factory into new film studios, part of a vision to transform the area into a leading creative, tech, and innovation district.
"It points to a reimagining of what the Golden Mile looks like and how we can be inclusive in our growth there," Rajawat commented.
Looking Ahead to a "Very Different" Local Election
With local elections scheduled for May 2026, Cllr Rajawat anticipates a highly contested campaign. He acknowledged increased scrutiny of the Labour-run council's transparency and councillor conduct but remained bullish about his party's record.
"I think it will be a very different election by the nature of the number of players in the field," he said. "Whilst this will be the election where many [parties] promise everything, how many of those parties will be able to deliver and point to a record of delivery?"
Despite the financial and political challenges, the council leader struck an optimistic tone about Hounslow's future, emphasising that resident engagement remains at the heart of the borough's plans for growth and renewal.
