Two Large HMO Schemes Proposed for West Ealing

Development of over 200 rooms planned for two sites on Broadway

A visualisation of the building planned at 105–113 Broadway. Picture: MDLR Architects

January 27, 2026

A developer has submitted proposals for two large HMO schemes in the centre of West Ealing.

The combined projects, if approved, would deliver over 200 rooms for shared living occupation in a move which appears driven by an increasing crackdown on HMOs in houses in residential parts of the borough.

One plan (254723FUL) has been submitted for the demolition of the existing 1930s building at 105–113 Broadway and its replacement with a six-storey mixed-use scheme combining ground-floor commercial space and 129 House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) rooms above. The application, lodged by UK Lux One SPV and designed by MDLR Architects, represents the most significant HMO-led developments brought forward in Ealing in recent years. The scheme includes commercial units at street level, with the upper floors providing HMO accommodation, communal kitchens and dining areas, laundry facilities, cycle storage and refuse provision.

The site occupies a prominent position on The Broadway (A4020), directly opposite a cluster of locally listed Edwardian buildings and adjacent to St James’ Avenue. The existing structure—an Art Deco-influenced three-storey block with retail at ground level and former office or residential space above—would be fully demolished to make way for the new development.

The proposed six-storey building would sit between the lower-rise frontage of The Broadway and the taller emerging developments to the east. The design team describes the scheme as a contemporary addition intended to improve the street scene along St James’ Avenue and Canberra Road, activate ground-floor frontages and create a more coherent urban edge to the town centre. The existing building’s Art Deco features, including white tiles, fluted detailing and a stepped parapet, would be lost, although the site is neither listed nor within a conservation area.

The existing building at 105-113 Broadway West Ealing. Picture: Google Streetview

The twin application (254789FUL) brought forward simultaneously by the same development team for another site close by at 99–103 Broadway seeks permission to demolish the existing three - storey mixed - use building and replace it with a six - storey mixed - use block containing 86 HMO rooms above new commercial at ground level. Up until recently both buildings had been the home of the SET Ealing Art Centre.

At 99–103 Broadway, the existing structure which is similar to the one at the other location would be replaced with a contemporary building designed around two clusters of HMO rooms per floor. The proposal includes a mix of en - suite and studio - style layouts, supported by shared kitchens, dining areas and communal spaces. The design of both schemes adheres to Ealing’s HMO Standards, with all rooms exceeding minimum floor areas and layouts arranged to maximise daylight, ventilation and circulation.

If approved, the twin schemes would significantly alter the character and function of this section of The Broadway, replacing older commercial buildings with a new cluster of high - density, managed shared - living accommodation.

A visualisation of the building planned at 109-113 Broadway. Picture: MDLR Architects

The proposals come amid a wave of redevelopment along The Broadway. Several nearby schemes have recently been approved or are under consideration, including a 14-storey mixed-use tower at 96–102 Broadway.

The applications also arrive at a moment when Ealing Council is actively reshaping its approach to HMOs. The borough has identified a growing need for affordable rental accommodation, particularly for NHS staff, teachers, childcare workers, students and early-career professionals who are increasingly priced out of the private rental market. HMOs are seen as one way of easing this pressure, potentially offering lower-cost options for people who support essential public services or are at the beginning of their careers.

The building currently at 99-105 Broadway, West Ealing

Ealing’s emerging Local Plan signals a preference for professionally managed, purpose-built HMOs rather than small, converted houses. The Council has emphasised the importance of meeting or exceeding its HMO Standards, providing adequate communal space, ensuring strong management arrangements and avoiding over-concentration in specific neighbourhoods. The Broadway proposal aligns with this direction by offering a large, single-operator building in a highly accessible town-centre location.

The Council has also expanded its Article 4 Directions, restricting the automatic conversion of family homes into small HMOs. This has encouraged developers to bring forward larger, purpose-designed schemes, which the Council considers easier to regulate and more capable of delivering consistent quality. The applicant argues that the Broadway locations, with their strong transport links and town-centre designation, is well suited to this type of accommodation.

HMOs are styles of living where each tenant has his/her own small bedroom room (probably no greater than 30 sqm) and some facilities are shared– normally including a kitchen, dining area, lounge, bath room, toilet, and shared clothes washing facilities. A growing trend in Ealing had been the conversion of Victorian/Edwardian family homes to HMOs with typically 6/8 tenants.

Eric Leach of West Ealing Neighbours is urging residents to object to the applications. He said, “For both of these proposal no live-in concierge or caretaker is included. With 129 or 86 people of different ages, sexes, cultures and occupations the absence of a live-in concierge/caretaker makes both proposals complete non-starters.”

Comments on the 105 – 113 Broadway application must be submitted before 3 February and on the following day for 99-103 Broadway. This can be done by searching on the planning section of the Ealing Council web site using the planning references given above.