West London Council Chooses Demolition Over Completion for 105 Affordable Homes
In a controversial decision, Ealing Council has announced plans to demolish 105 affordable homes currently under construction across six sites in West London, rather than restarting work halted by the insolvency of contractor Henry Construction. The council asserts that demolition represents a more "cost-effective and better long-term solution" than attempting to complete the partially built structures.
Six Sites Affected by Demolition Decision
The demolition will impact multiple locations throughout the borough:
- 53 homes at Dean Gardens estate in West Ealing
- 25 homes at Chesterton and Evesham Close in Greenford
- 11 homes at Wood End in Greenford
- 10 homes at Shackleton Road in Southall
- 6 homes at Norwood Road in Southall
All 105 homes were part of a £40 million contract awarded to Henry Construction in January 2022 to deliver Passivhaus-standard affordable housing designed by Bell Phillips. Work began later that year, but the builder entered administration in June 2023, leaving buildings unfinished though close to completion.
From Construction Commitment to Demolition Reality
This represents a significant reversal from the council's initial position. When Henry Construction collapsed, Ealing Council committed to completing all homes. Now, nearly three years later, the authority has determined demolition is the most practical approach.
The affected homes were originally marketed in February 2022 as part of Ealing Council's pledge to build more than 2,500 affordable homes by May 2022. Their demolition comes amid a dramatic decline in affordable home building in the borough, with housing starts plummeting from 2,070 in 2022/23 to just 13 in 2023/24.
Broader Context of Affordable Housing Challenges
Ealing Council's decision occurs within a challenging housing landscape. The council has recently allowed developers to withdraw affordable housing commitments from approved projects, citing difficult market conditions. In January 2026, planning permission was granted to remove all affordable units from an 18-storey Acton development, despite a policy requiring 35% affordable housing in new schemes.
An Ealing Council spokesperson explained: "Several national and local construction contractors collapsed into administration following the pandemic, including Henry Construction. The sudden collapse meant work on 60 sites stopped overnight, with significant implications for Ealing Council and other councils."
Council's Response to Housing Crisis
Despite this setback, the council emphasizes its ongoing commitment to addressing the borough's housing crisis, with more than 7,000 families urgently needing affordable homes. The spokesperson added: "We have responded innovatively to challenging market conditions and are running one of London's largest council homebuilding programmes. Last year, Ealing Council delivered more new affordable homes to let than any other London borough."
The council has also pursued alternative strategies, including bulk purchases of homes originally intended for private sale. Recent deals have secured 290 homes in Acton and Southall for council tenants.
The demolition decision highlights the complex challenges facing affordable housing delivery in London, where contractor insolvencies, construction costs, and market conditions continue to impact council building programmes.
