New dwellings in West London have only increased by a disappointing five per cent from April 1 2018 to March 31 2022.
A number of factors have influenced this figure; however, each borough reveals a different story in this difficult period. The impact of Brexit, COVID-19, the Ukraine War, and inflation cannot be overlooked; however, that will impact each borough roughly the same.
The decline in non-council dwellings can be explained by the loss of government-owned housing, such as barracks in Hounslow and elsewhere. However, the Housing Association sector has been slow to grow its portfolios and meet demand.
Growth in dwellings has taken place along the Elizabeth Line in Hillingdon (+4.4 per cent) and Ealing (+5.4 per cent). The availability of brownfield sites in Hounslow (+6.7 per cent), Ealing, Wandsworth (Battersea)(+4.4 per cent), and Brent (Wembley) (+9.4 per cent) has enabled growth.
Lower growth in Richmond (+1.2 percent) and Kingston (+2.9 percent) can be partly explained by large green spaces and a lack of available brownfield sites.
This, in Richmond, looks set to change as Gareth Roberts, the leader of Richmond Council, announced at the Richmond Social, “ Richmond is open for business.” The Mortlake Brewery and former Homebase site will add to the growth in dwellings in the next five years.
Roger Madelin, CBE, speaking at the Richmond Social, believes that once the interest rates fall, we will see a growth in building. The cash is available; we are just waiting for the green light. He thinks it could be “the roaring twenties again.”
Several incomplete developments across West London will fuel growth in the next five years. Old Oak Common will add many as the HS2 project rolls on. Ealing has identified the need for 28,000 new homes in its borough.
Savill estimates that London will need close to 100,000 new homes each year to meet requirements, which means West London will need to supply 250,000 rather than the 45,000 seen in the last five years.
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