Ealing Liberal Democrats have criticised Labour-run Ealing Council over what they describe as poor progress in delivering affordable housing and managing development, as Ealing Council says wider economic pressures have slowed housebuilding across London.
The Liberal Democrats said Ealing Labour was on course to miss its target of creating 4,000 affordable homes by 2026, claiming that many recent developments have been dominated by tall buildings with limited affordable housing and insufficient local infrastructure. They also alleged that developers had been allowed to operate without paying millions in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions that could have been used to improve schools, roads and public spaces.
The official opposition party further pointed to delays in rebuilding the Gurnell Leisure Centre, which has left Ealing without a public swimming pool for five years, and criticised what it called poor housing repair services for council tenants.
Councillor Jon Ball, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for housing and development, said: “Ealing Labour seem to have no clear plan for managing development while the borough is in the middle of a huge housing crisis. Residents suffer with a lack of quality housing and an abysmal repairs service.”
In response, Ealing Council said that the borough’s housing challenges reflect a wider slowdown in construction across London, caused by economic pressures and industry disruption.
A council spokesperson told EALING.NEWS: “Housing starts have slowed significantly across London and the borough of Ealing is no exception. The challenges we face are part of a wider crisis affecting the entire capital driven by a combination of economic pressures, industry disruption and uncertainty. The construction sector continues to grapple with the long-term impacts of Brexit, the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis, all of which have made it harder to deliver new homes.
“We are seeing unprecedented demand for housing support, with over 7,000 families on the waiting list for social housing. At the same time, supply has not kept up, making our borough one of the least affordable places to live in London.
“We are already taking a proactive approach, directly building new homes, securing affordable housing through private developments, and acquiring 290 homes under construction in Acton and Southall. Our new housing strategy sets out an ambition for 50% affordable housing.”
