Ealing Council has secured a deal to purchase 180 brand-new homes in the heart of Southall.

The homes are part of the Green Quarter development, a large-scale regeneration project being delivered by Berkeley Homes on the former Southall Gasworks site.

The newly acquired properties, located just minutes from Southall Station, are expected to be completed and ready for tenants by autumn 2026.

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The council is acquiring a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, all of which will be let at affordable rates tailored to local needs:

• 96 homes will be let at social rent, typically set at around 40–50% of market rent.
• 84 homes will be offered at London Living Rent, a tenure designed for working families on average incomes, acting as a stepping stone to home ownership.

This initiative is aimed squarely at supporting local people on lower incomes, who have been disproportionately affected by the housing shortage and soaring private rents. In Southall, where average private rents far outpace local wages, this move provides a lifeline for families struggling to find secure, long-term accommodation.

It’s likely that 60–80% of the homes will go to people already living in Southall or with strong local ties.

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To finance the purchase, Ealing Council is drawing on a mix of funding sources, including:

• Grants from the Greater London Authority’s Affordable Homes Programme (2021–2026)
• Strategic council borrowing

This bulk-buying strategy marks a new, more proactive approach by the council—allowing it to secure large numbers of new homes in one go, ensuring affordability and long-term availability for residents. The council has signalled that this will be the first of several similar investments.

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Addressing a Growing Need

Southall, like much of Ealing, is experiencing significant pressure on housing services. The borough is among the least affordable areas to live in the UK.

Currently:

• Nearly 8,000 households are on the waiting list for a long-term council home
• The council is housing around 3,000 families in temporary accommodation
• Demand for emergency housing has risen to unprecedented levels

The Green Quarter homes represent not only a tangible improvement in housing stock but also a strategic shift in how the council plans to tackle the housing emergency facing the borough.

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Council leader Peter Mason said:

"This is a bold and necessary step to ensure that local people have access to homes they can truly afford. Now, almost 200 local families will be able to start new lives in safe, modern homes by the end of next year. We’re proud to be leading the way in tackling the housing crisis head-on."

Councillor Shital Manro, the council’s cabinet member for good growth and new homes, said:

"This deal shows what’s possible when Ealing Council acts decisively on one of its key priorities and respond quickly to changing market conditions. It’s a fantastic outcome for some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents and goes a small way to

While 180 homes won’t solve Ealing’s housing crisis — with over 8,000 households on the waiting list — it’s still a step in the right direction. Every new home helps ease pressure, especially at social rent levels.

Image: The Green Quarter (Computer Generated Image) by Berkeley Group