Labour-run Ealing Council has been accused of delaying the closure of its troubled housing companies until after last month’s (7 May 2026) local elections.
The criticism came after the council’s Cabinet voted on Wednesday to wind up Broadway Living and Broadway Living Registered Provider (BLRP), ending a housing venture that has left the authority facing an estimated £6.55m loss.
Ealing Liberal Democrat councillors said the warning signs had been visible for years and claimed Labour should have acted sooner.
Broadway Living was established in 2014 to help increase the supply of affordable housing in the borough.
Council papers show almost £43m was invested in the companies. Property valuations indicate around £36.35m can be recovered, leaving an estimated £6.55m shortfall.
Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, Ealing Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Gary Malcolm criticised the administration’s handling of the companies.
The decision follows a series of independent reviews into Broadway Living’s future. One review concluded that “doing nothing is not a realistic option” and found neither company could continue in its current form.
Under the plans approved by Cabinet, the companies’ homes will transfer to the council. Tenants will remain in their properties and a council report said there would be “no loss of affordable homes” and that tenants’ rights would be protected.
Housing management and development functions will also be brought back in-house.
The plans cover four unfinished developments at Shackleton Road in Southall, Wood End in Northolt, Chesterton and Evesham in Greenford and Norwood Road in Southall. Those sites will transfer to the council, with their future expected to be considered in a separate report.
Councillor Jon Ball, Liberal Democrat shadow spokesperson for planning, licensing and regeneration, said: “Ealing Labour should have grasped the nettle and closed down this failed experiment years ago. Allowing it to limp on has increased the cost to council taxpayers.
“The sites at Deans Gardens and around the borough still lie empty and will cost the council more of our money to demolish before new schemes for those sites can start.”
In a statement to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “Broadway Living was established in 2014 to help tackle the borough’s severe housing shortage by delivering genuinely affordable, energy-efficient homes for local people. Those homes are already providing a safe and stable foundation for hundreds of families across the borough.
“However, recent changes in government policy mean councils now have greater flexibility to deliver housing directly, and several authorities have already wound up their housing companies. Subject to cabinet approval and consultation with Broadway Living’s boards, we now plan to do the same.
“This decision reflects wider challenges facing the housebuilding sector in recent years. The combined impacts of Brexit, the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have driven up construction costs and slowed delivery across London and beyond.
“Despite these challenges, we are one of the highest-performing boroughs in London for building affordable housing. In part, we have done this by adapting to changing market conditions. For example, we have pivoted to bulk purchasing properties under construction instead of self-building homes. Last year we bought 290 homes which had previously been intended for market sale. All of them will be let to council tenants at genuinely affordable rents instead. Further purchases are expected to follow.
“In total, more than 700 new council homes will be finished and let to local families by the end of this year, with around 1,750 more in the pipeline by 2028. We are also preparing a major bid to the Mayor of London’s new affordable homes programme.
“There will be very limited impact on Broadway Living tenants if it is closed down. All homes will transfer into council ownership, ensuring they remain within the social housing sector, with tenants’ rights fully protected.”
