Residents Not Impressed with Mount Close Estate Plans
Proposal is for 178 flats in blocks up to six storeys high
A visualisation of the proposed new development. Picture: Bell Phillips Architects
August 5, 2025
Plans to redevelop the Mount Close Estate in Ealing have sparked opposition from residents, despite the developer’s assurances of affordability, sustainability, and architectural sensitivity.
The proposal (252540FUL) for the additional housing on the 0.95-hectare site on Mount Avenue near the junction with Castlebar Road, has been submitted by affordable housing charity Dolphin Living and designed by Bell Phillips Architects. It envisages a major overhaul of the 1950s estate, including the demolition of two blocks, refurbishment of four existing buildings, and construction of six new ones.
The estate currently has 40 flats arranged around open spaces and was acquired by Dolphin Living in 2016 from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).
The scheme promises to deliver a total of 178 flats, with a target of 50% affordable housing by habitable room, and aims to retain over 70% of existing homes to reduce embodied carbon.
According to the developer, the scheme will offer all original pre-2016 residents a new flat tailored to their needs, improve landscaping with climate-resilient and inclusive green spaces, and introduce high-quality architecture inspired by local Victorian villas and interwar mansion blocks. The estate’s current ‘car-dominated’ layout will be reimagined to prioritise pedestrian and cycle access, with new communal amenities and enhanced refuse and parking strategies.
A visualisation of the proposed new development. Picture: Bell Phillips Architects
However, residents have voiced strong objections on the council’s planning portal, citing overdevelopment, ecological harm, and inadequate consultation. At the time of writing there were 32 comments, all objecting to the proposal. Many argue that the proposed 5–6 storey buildings are out of scale with the surrounding 2–4 storey homes, breaching both local and London-wide planning policies that require developments to respect neighbourhood character. The cumulative impact of this scheme alongside the nearby Nile Lodge development is also a concern, with fears of prolonged disruption and loss of suburban identity.
Critics have also challenged the scheme’s affordable housing claims, noting that much of it relies on Discount Market Rent, which they argue is not genuinely affordable. The lack of family-sized units and substandard daylight provision further fuel misgivings. Transport issues are another flashpoint, with the site’s poor Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) and uncertain parking controls seen as likely to exacerbate congestion and stress on local infrastructure.
The proposal describes the existing estate as 'car-dominated'
The removal of mature trees and reduction of green space has drawn particular ire, with residents accusing the developers of undermining biodiversity and breaching urban greening policies. Many also criticised the community engagement process as rushed and insufficient, calling for greater transparency and genuine dialogue.
The developer has a web site with more details of its plans.
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