Ealing Council Nearly 2,000 Homes Short of Affordable Housing Target
Opposition says shortfall can't be met due to electricity grid constraint
Councillor Jon Ball and Councillor Connie Hersch outside Perceval House
Ealing Council has fallen short of its own target to build affordable housing by nearly 2,000 homes in the last financial year.
The figures were released in response to a question by Liberal Democrat councillor Connie Hersch. She was told that the council was aiming to build 5,424 affordable homes in the year to this March including 2,047 ‘genuinely affordable’ homes.
In the event only 3,501 housing units were added during the year. The proportion of these which are classed as genuinely affordable was not given. The council said it would aim to make up the shortfall as part of the new Council Plan 2022 – 2026 targets.
Cllr Hersch, who represents Ealing Common ward, said, "Despite the urgent need, the Council failed to deliver 1,923 affordable homes last year. The Council now promises to deliver them sometime between now and 2026."
Councillor Jon Ball (Opposition Planning and Housing spokesperson) added, "Liberal Democrats say with electricity supply capacity now running out in Ealing, it will be even harder for the Labour administration to catch up on this shortfall in affordable housing. At the same time, they are pushing ahead with unpopular luxury high-rise flats but failing to deliver the affordable housing that families in Ealing need."
The council has given itself permission to build 447 flats in the redevelopment of Perceval House around half of which will be classed as affordable but none will be available for social rent.
We have asked Ealing Council for a comment on the figures.
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August 25, 2022