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Ealing Council has abandoned plans to complete five half-built housing schemes left stalled after Henry Construction Projects Ltd collapsed. Technical reviews found construction defects, missing records, unresolved warranty issues and structural and fire-safety compliance concerns. Officials concluded that repairing and certifying the buildings would cost more than pursuing other ways to provide affordable housing, so the sites will be marketed instead.
What the council decided
The decision concerns five existing structures commissioned through Ealing’s housing subsidiary, Broadway Living. Henry Construction received a £40 million contract in 2022 and entered insolvency in 2023. Construction stopped across the stalled sites in June and July 2023, according to local reporting.
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Ealing’s decision is to market six sites in total. Five structures built under the Henry contract are judged non-viable to retain. Southall Market Car Park, delivered by 4 Square Services, is being treated differently because its existing frame might still be completed, subject to further surveys and approvals.
Which five schemes are being abandoned?
| Site | Location | Planned homes | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterton and Evesham Close | Greenford | 25 | London Affordable Rent |
| Wood End | Greenford | 11 | London Affordable Rent |
| Shackleton Road | Southall | 10 | London Affordable Rent |
| Norwood Road | Southall | 6 | London Affordable Rent |
| Dean Gardens | West Ealing | 53 | 21 London Affordable Rent; 10 shared ownership; 22 open-market |
The five Henry Construction schemes were intended to provide 105 homes. The decision does not mean those homes have been delivered elsewhere; it means the approved designs will not be completed in their current form by direct council delivery.
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Why finishing the buildings was rejected
Technical defects and incomplete records
Independent technical reviews identified defects and incomplete construction information. Missing records make it harder to verify what was installed, demonstrate compliance and hand a project to a new contractor without repeating surveys or opening up finished work.
Warranty and safety uncertainty
The reviews also found unresolved warranty issues and wider structural and fire-safety compliance concerns. A replacement contractor would need to establish the condition of each building, determine what remedial work is required and obtain the approvals and warranties needed for occupation.
Higher cost than alternatives
Council officers concluded that direct delivery would require significant additional investment and would cost substantially more than alternatives such as acquiring affordable homes elsewhere. Development economics have also changed since the schemes were approved. The Greater London Authority told officers that no additional grant funding was currently available; materially changing the schemes could also trigger repayment of existing grant.
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“The original objective was to deliver the approved housing schemes,” Ealing Council said in a statement quoted on 14 October 2026. “However, the contractor insolvencies, subsequent technical findings and significant changes in development economics mean the council must now focus on securing the best overall outcome from its current position.”
How the five sites fit into the wider six-site programme
The six stalled sites were planned to deliver 230 homes in total:
- 174 London Affordable Rent homes
- 34 shared-ownership homes
- 22 open-market homes
Southall Market Car Park accounts for 125 of those planned homes: 101 London Affordable Rent and 24 shared ownership. Subtracting that project leaves the 105 homes associated with the five Henry Construction structures.
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Will Southall Market Car Park be completed?
It is the only stalled location where the council has identified a possible route to complete the existing frame. That is not a commitment to finish the scheme. Further structural surveys, technical checks, commercial testing and regulatory approvals must establish whether retaining the frame is practical and value for money.
What happens next
Ealing has approved up to £200,000 for specialist consultancy, legal support and site surveys needed to prepare the sites for marketing. The reported timetable is:
- October–November 2026: appoint specialist marketing agents.
- December 2026–March 2027: market the six sites.
- April–July 2027: evaluate bids and negotiate with prospective purchasers or development partners.
- September 2027: return to Cabinet with offers and a recommended way forward.
Marketing does not itself authorise a sale. No disposal is final until Cabinet makes a further decision. Any buyer or partner would need to assess the existing structures, planning position, grant conditions, tenure requirements, safety remediation and the cost of bringing the sites forward.
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What the decision means for delivery and risk
For the five Henry sites, the council is moving from a “repair and complete” approach to a market-led disposal strategy. That changes who carries the construction and approval risk, but it does not remove the underlying technical questions. Bids will have to reflect the cost of investigating defects, resolving fire and structural issues, securing warranties and meeting any planning or grant obligations.
The council’s choice reflects a value-for-money judgment rather than a finding that housing is no longer needed. The 105 planned homes remain an unmet component of the original programme unless replacement homes are secured through another route. The eventual outcome will depend on the bids received and the Cabinet decision expected in September 2027.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
How many homes were planned on the five Henry Construction sites?
The five schemes were planned to provide 105 homes: 73 London Affordable Rent, 10 shared ownership and 22 open-market homes.
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Why did Ealing Council decide not to finish them?
Technical reviews found defects, missing construction records, unresolved warranty issues and structural and fire-safety compliance concerns. Officers said completing the schemes would require significant extra investment and cost more than alternatives such as buying affordable homes elsewhere.
What happened to Henry Construction’s contract?
Broadway Living awarded Henry Construction a £40 million contract in 2022. The contractor collapsed in 2023, and construction stopped across the stalled sites in June and July that year.
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Not necessarily. It is the only site where the existing frame might still be completed, but that depends on further surveys, technical findings, approvals and a value-for-money decision.
When will Ealing decide whether to sell the sites?
The council plans to market them from December 2026 to March 2027, evaluate and negotiate bids from April to July, and return to Cabinet with offers and a recommendation in September 2027. A sale is not final until Cabinet approves it.
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