Fresh Plans Submitted for 16 Flats on Church Road

Four storey building latest proposal for Northolt site

A visualisation of the proposed building. Picture: Cookham Design Partnership

February 26, 2026

A new planning application has been submitted to Ealing Council for the redevelopment of 278–280 Church Road in Northolt, proposing the demolition of two semi-detached houses and their replacement with a four-storey apartment building containing 16 self-contained flats. The scheme, prepared by Cookham Design Partnership on behalf of Upton Park Housing, represents the latest stage in a long-running effort to redevelop the site.

The application follows several earlier proposals for the plot. A full planning application for 10 flats was submitted in 2016 but later withdrawn. A revised scheme for 11 flats (ref. 183627FUL) was submitted in 2018 and received draft approval in 2020, although the associated legal agreement was not finalised until planning permission was formally granted in July 2025. A more ambitious proposal for 18 flats (ref. 23/0438/FUL) was refused by the council, with concerns raised about height, scale, design quality, housing mix and the impact on neighbouring properties. The new 16-unit proposal is intended to address those reasons for refusal.

The site occupies a prominent position on Church Road, close to the A40 and framed by two existing four-storey residential blocks: Nord Court at 274–276 Church Road and Dias House at 284 Church Road. The developer argues that the current two-storey houses appear increasingly out of place in a streetscape that has evolved to include larger residential buildings. The proposed development would adopt a similar height and massing to its neighbours, incorporating a mansard roof and stepped upper floors to reduce visual bulk.

The scheme includes a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, all designed to meet London Plan and Nationally Described Space Standards. Two of the flats would be fully wheelchair-accessible. All units would be dual or triple aspect and provided with private balconies or terraces, while a communal garden and children’s play area would be located at the rear of the site. The proposal also includes eight parking spaces, two electric vehicle charging points, and storage for 30 bicycles.

The applicant states that the design has been significantly revised to respond to previous concerns. The overall height has been reduced, the number of units lowered from 18 to 16, and the building repositioned to create a more appropriate relationship with neighbouring properties. Roof-mounted plant has been removed in favour of internal mechanical ventilation and air-source heat pumps, and a full suite of supporting assessments—including daylight and sunlight, air quality, energy performance, ecology and drainage—has been submitted.

It is contended that the redevelopment represents an efficient use of a brownfield site in a well-connected location, contributing to the borough’s housing targets and aligning with London Plan policy encouraging higher-density development along major transport corridors.

Given the scale of the application it is likely to be considered by the Ealing borough planning committee in due course.