A massive £1 billion regeneration project is set to transform part of West London, but residents of the historic Southall community are questioning what price they'll pay for this new neighbourhood called The Green Quarter.
The Changing Face of 'Little India'
For generations, Southall has been known as London's 'Little India', forming one of the capital's largest South Asian communities since the 1950s. Journalist Sharan Dhaliwal, who grew up in the area, describes it as a 'haven of migrant communities' with deep cultural roots.
'I live down the road from Southall now,' says the 41-year-old, 'but I visit almost daily for an intake of samosas and a nostalgic walk among the clothing stores.' Her family connection runs deep - her grandad's brother, Pritam Singh Sangha, opened the first South Asian corner store in Southall back in 1954.
The area's transformation began accelerating with the arrival of the Elizabeth Line, making it a property hotspot. Now, the Berkeley Group-managed Green Quarter development will cover 88 acres including 13 acres of parkland, with the first phase - Quarter Yards - offering 1,273 homes and over 105,000 sq ft of commercial space.
Community Concerns vs Developer Promises
Local fears about gentrification are mounting. A 2023 Generation Rent study found more than four in five South Asian renters in Southall have struggled to find affordable local housing. In public consultations about The Green Quarter, 71 of 461 locals specifically requested more affordable options.
'The generation who came here and opened grocers, worked at Heathrow, in factories, fought the far-right, protected their families, built the economy - they're being erased from their own history,' Sharan explains emotionally.
She highlights Southall's rich history of community activism, including the 1976 protest movement after 18-year-old Gurdip Singh Chaggar was killed by neo-Nazi skinheads, and the formation of British reggae band Misty in Roots, whose member Clarence Baker was beaten into a coma by police during anti-fascist demonstrations.
However, developers Berkeley emphasise their commitment to the local community. A spokesperson told Metro: 'At The Green Quarter, we're working with the local community and council to transform a fenced-off gasworks into a welcoming and inclusive new part of Southall.'
The company highlights that of the 3,475 total homes, 1,042 will be affordable - defined as subsidised route to home ownership or subsidised rents for low-income households. They've already completed their first 500 affordable homes with nearly 200 more under construction.
The Price of Progress
The Brickfields development, the first building in Quarter Yards, will offer one-bedroom homes from £385,000 from late 2027, with larger properties reaching £730,000. The village-style quarter will feature bougie cafés, shops, restaurants and a private members club with swimming pool and sauna.
Berkeley maintains that while affordable homebuilding has fallen sharply across London, with just 347 affordable homes started across the capital between April and June 2025, the Green Quarter 'stands out as one of the few sites which is maintaining supply.' Nearly half of London's affordable housing starts during that period were located at their development.
Additional benefits promised include 13 acres of biodiverse parkland designed with London Wildlife Trust, financial contributions to local infrastructure, and apprenticeship opportunities.
Yet for lifelong residents like Sharan, the concern remains: 'While change is welcomed, so is sensitivity and care, but that's rarely ever on the to-do list of property developers. Southall is a big part of England's history in migration, solidarity, culture and family. It should never be forgotten or erased with big money making development schemes.'
