Ealing Council is preparing to demolish a stalled 53-home development in West Ealing after the collapse of its main contractor left the site half-built and exposed to damage for more than two years.
The scheme, located at Dean Gardens / Maitland Yard, was designed to deliver a mix of affordable rent, shared ownership and private sale homes as part of the council’s Broadway Living housing programme. Construction has been frozen since June 2023 following the insolvency of Henry Construction Projects Ltd, which held a multi-site contract with the authority.
The project stalled in June 2023 when Henry Construction entered administration. The company was responsible for a wider £40 million package of council housing projects across Ealing, including additional sites at: Shackleton Road, Evesham Close, Norwood Road, Chesterton Close, Wood End Library, Arden Road.
Henry’s collapse left multiple developments incomplete, with contractors, subcontractors and suppliers unpaid. Since work stopped, the structures at Dean Gardens — part-built concrete frames and partially fitted units — have deteriorated due to prolonged exposure to weather.
On 12 November 2025, Ealing Council’s Cabinet reviewed a report proposing demolition as the most viable option. Key reasons cited include:
- Cost-effectiveness: Extensive remedial works required to complete the existing structures would exceed the expense of demolition and restart.
- Quality assurance: Concerns that retaining the partially deteriorated structures may create long-term performance risks.
- Health and safety: The incomplete site poses ongoing risk due to open structures and degrading materials.
No confirmed demolition contractor has yet been appointed, but the council expects work to complete by mid-2026. The development forms part of a larger programme originally supported by a Greater London Authority (GLA) affordable housing grant, allocated to Broadway Living RP.
The exact final financial loss has not been publicly disclosed, but cabinet papers note significant cost escalation due to contractor insolvency and inflation in the construction sector.
Ealing has more than 7,000 households on its housing waiting list, with over 2,500 families currently in temporary accommodation. The removal of these homes increases pressure on the borough’s affordable housing supply.
Future plans for the site include re-design and procurement of a new contractor, but no new delivery timeline has been published. The Dean Gardens case highlights several systemic issues affecting London’s affordable housing delivery.
The demolition of the half-built Dean Gardens development represents a significant setback for affordable housing delivery in West London. While the council argues that clearing the compromised structures is the safest and most cost-effective option, the decision also highlights wider challenges in the construction sector — particularly around contractor reliability, cost inflation and the vulnerability of local authority-led housing pipelines.
London Construction Magazine will continue to monitor the redevelopment timeline and its impact on the borough’s housing capacity.
The scheme, located at Dean Gardens / Maitland Yard, was designed to deliver a mix of affordable rent, shared ownership and private sale homes as part of the council’s Broadway Living housing programme. Construction has been frozen since June 2023 following the insolvency of Henry Construction Projects Ltd, which held a multi-site contract with the authority.
The project stalled in June 2023 when Henry Construction entered administration. The company was responsible for a wider £40 million package of council housing projects across Ealing, including additional sites at: Shackleton Road, Evesham Close, Norwood Road, Chesterton Close, Wood End Library, Arden Road.
Henry’s collapse left multiple developments incomplete, with contractors, subcontractors and suppliers unpaid. Since work stopped, the structures at Dean Gardens — part-built concrete frames and partially fitted units — have deteriorated due to prolonged exposure to weather.
On 12 November 2025, Ealing Council’s Cabinet reviewed a report proposing demolition as the most viable option. Key reasons cited include:
- Cost-effectiveness: Extensive remedial works required to complete the existing structures would exceed the expense of demolition and restart.
- Quality assurance: Concerns that retaining the partially deteriorated structures may create long-term performance risks.
- Health and safety: The incomplete site poses ongoing risk due to open structures and degrading materials.
No confirmed demolition contractor has yet been appointed, but the council expects work to complete by mid-2026. The development forms part of a larger programme originally supported by a Greater London Authority (GLA) affordable housing grant, allocated to Broadway Living RP.
The exact final financial loss has not been publicly disclosed, but cabinet papers note significant cost escalation due to contractor insolvency and inflation in the construction sector.
Ealing has more than 7,000 households on its housing waiting list, with over 2,500 families currently in temporary accommodation. The removal of these homes increases pressure on the borough’s affordable housing supply.
Future plans for the site include re-design and procurement of a new contractor, but no new delivery timeline has been published. The Dean Gardens case highlights several systemic issues affecting London’s affordable housing delivery.
The demolition of the half-built Dean Gardens development represents a significant setback for affordable housing delivery in West London. While the council argues that clearing the compromised structures is the safest and most cost-effective option, the decision also highlights wider challenges in the construction sector — particularly around contractor reliability, cost inflation and the vulnerability of local authority-led housing pipelines.
London Construction Magazine will continue to monitor the redevelopment timeline and its impact on the borough’s housing capacity.
