Council Housing Returns to Ealing

11,174 on waiting list, local authority to build 68 new homes

For the first time since the 1980s Ealing Council is to start work building new council homes to ease the borough’s 11 thousand strong housing waiting list.

The 68 new homes are being built after Ealing Council became one of only six London boroughs to win funding for the scheme. The council will invest £5.5million in the project, matching the amount secured from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Potential sites in Britannia Close and Eastcote Lane in Northolt and High Lane in Hanwell, which are already owned by the council, have been earmarked as possible locations for the homes.

Most will have at least two bedrooms because there is an urgent need for more family accommodation in the borough. 11,174 people are currently waiting to be rehoused.

The homes will be designed to be energy efficient to help tenants save on energy bills and help the council in its drive to reduce carbon emissions.

Council Leader, Councillor Jason Stacey, said: “A lack of affordable housing is a major problem in Ealing and the borough has many hard working families who for a long time have been on the housing waiting list. This funding will enable us to build new council houses to provide homes for the people in greatest need.”

Each scheme will have to go through a full consultation and planning process, which will begin later this year.

September 29, 2009