Ealing urges the mayor to reconsider housing targets

Ealing Council has urged the Mayor of London to reconsider proposed housing targets in the draft London Plan, warning that the scale of development planned for industrial land could threaten thousands of local jobs.

The council supports the mayor’s goal of increasing housing, especially genuinely affordable homes, but says this must be balanced against the need to protect businesses, employment, and the wider local economy.

The London Plan guides where homes, jobs, transport, and infrastructure should be located across the capital, and is currently being revised. In its consultation response, Ealing highlighted its strong record on housing delivery, noting that it built more new homes than any other London borough in 2024/25 and has consistently delivered high numbers of affordable homes. It also has the most affordable housing under construction in London.

However, the council says the draft plan could require building around 11,000 homes on industrial land in the borough, which it estimates could put about 7,000 jobs at risk. Council leaders argue that London’s planning strategy must function as both a housing plan and an economic plan, supporting homes, transport, services, open space, and infrastructure together.

Council leader Peter Mason said the borough wants ambitious housing delivery, but not at the expense of the jobs and investment needed to make it viable. Councillor Monica Hamidi added that industrial land is essential to local business growth and supply chains, and once lost, it is very difficult to replace. Ealing is asking for housing targets that are realistic and aligned with long-term economic growth.