Ealing Council promotes London’s Small Sites

Ealing Council is pushing ahead with plans to boost housing supply by turning small, underused plots of land into new homes, with a focus on previously overlooked sites.

One of the latest projects is in Southall, where architect-developer Oddment has been appointed to redevelop a council-owned site on Recreation Road, currently occupied by derelict garages. If planning permission is granted, the plot is expected to deliver four family-sized homes.

The appointment forms part of the council’s support for local businesses and aligns with the Mayor of London’s Small Sites, Small Builders programme, which aims to give smaller developers more opportunities to build. Ealing says this approach is important because smaller firms, although they account for only a modest share of the market, are often best placed to deliver high-quality homes on compact sites that larger companies may ignore.

Council leader Peter Mason said the project shows how the borough can use its assets to support both housing delivery and the local economy, saying: “By working with developers like Oddment, we are helping to support local jobs while revitalising small, often forgotten plots of land to build the homes our residents want.”

The Recreation Road scheme has been in view for redevelopment for some time. Councillor Louise Brett, deputy leader and cabinet member for safe and genuinely affordable homes, said that unlocking small sites is part of Ealing’s response to the housing crisis and a way to create much-needed homes while backing small and medium-sized builders.

Oddment, founded in 2024 by Ned Scott and Alex Somerville, describes itself as focused on “design-led, characterful homes” that fit their surroundings. Somerville has a personal connection to Ealing, having grown up in the borough and worked on local projects before. The company says the project is a chance to transform a modest site into something distinctive and locally rooted.

Before submitting a planning application, Oddment plans to consult with nearby residents, beginning with flyers and neighbour visits. Ealing says the Recreation Road development is part of a wider strategy, supported by a Greater London Authority grant and the Small Sites, Small Builders project, to bring forward more small sites across the borough. Additional sites are expected to go out to tender later this year.