Anger continues to grow between local people and a property developer over proposals for a major housing scheme at Trumpers Way in Hanwell, where hundreds of homes would be built on a brownfield site backing onto Brent River Park.
Campaigners from Hands Off Hanwell – Stop Trumpers Towers Community Group have raised concerns over what they describe as poor engagement, including a refusal to meet with them and a consultation “pop-up” event held outside the Hanwell Broadway ward where the development is planned, as well as its timing in the run-up to Christmas and New Year.
The Elthorne Works proposals by Fancourt Group would see 287 homes built on the site, alongside commercial or community space. The scheme represents a significant increase on a previously approved 213-home development granted in 2020 and includes buildings ranging from 10 to 15 storeys.
As of 19 April 2026, Ealing Council’s planning portal had received 1,138 public comments on the proposed development, with 1,124 objections and 11 in support.
Fancourt Group says it is revisiting the scheme in response to changing needs. In its consultation leaflet, the developer states that “with increasing local demand for affordable homes” it is “taking the opportunity to refresh the plans to better meet community needs”, describing the revised proposals as providing “288 affordable, high-quality homes”. That figure differs slightly from the planning application, which lists 287 homes.
In documents submitted to Ealing Council, the developer states: “The overarching objective of the proposal is to bring the Site back into use as a residential-led mixed-use development providing much needed 100% social rent homes.”
Residents have also objected to the scale of the scheme, arguing it is too tall and would place significant strain on local infrastructure.
The issue has also entered the local election campaign.
Clare Welsby, Ealing Green Party candidate for Hanwell Broadway, told EALING.NEWS: “I support the Hands-off Hanwell – Stop the Towers campaign. Their concerns about Trumper Towers have been continually brought up when we’ve been speaking to residents on the doorstep.
“The height is a real concern for residents, as is the impact on local infrastructure. The proposal breaks the council’s own development plan, which recommends a maximum of six storeys for the area from 2024, though the plan has still not been finally signed off. Six storeys in a well-designed development of affordable and social housing that meets local needs, with infrastructure issues addressed, is what is needed.”
Local Labour councillors have also publicly criticised the plans. Councillor Polly Knewstub said she and fellow ward councillor Yoel Gordon met the developers on 6 March 2026 and raised concerns including flooding risks, excessive height and density, poor consultation and loss of industrial space. Posting on Facebook, she said: “We made it clear to the developers that this proposal is not acceptable and urged them to withdraw it. We know we need housing in Ealing, but we need development that works for our community in Hanwell. We will continue to oppose this scheme and fight for a better plan.”
Concerns raised locally also include the potential impact on surrounding nature areas, pressure on schools and GP services, and questions over flooding and sewer capacity. Residents have also pointed to what they describe as gaps in the planning documents, including the absence of detailed shadow studies, limited landscape visuals and insufficient engagement with some local stakeholders.
Residents have also cited the development’s proximity to Brent River Park and nearby Warren Farm as a key concern, with campaigners questioning whether the scale of the proposals is appropriate for the location.
EALING.NEWS asked the developer why a consultation event was held at Northfields Underground station — outside the Hanwell Broadway ward — and during the festive period, with residents saying it was not local and difficult to attend.
In response, a spokesperson for the Elthorne Works project team defended the consultation process.
The spokesperson said: “Our consultation location was driven by identifying a place that the local community uses regularly in the area and where we could speak to a larger number of people. Whilst Boston Manor Underground Station was our original choice of location, we were advised it was not possible to use by TfL. Therefore, Northfields Underground Station was chosen as the next best location.”
The spokesperson added: “Our exhibition was held on Tuesday 16th December, during Ealing term time and before schools broke up for the Christmas period, as it is advisable to avoid school holidays as many people travel away during this time.
“51 people attended our consultation event, which was advertised via flyer to over 2,000 properties. Over two weeks’ notice was provided for the consultation event, with a 4-week consultation period which ran through December. Further information on our engagement can be found in the Applicant’s Statement of Community Involvement.”
The developer also said the scheme was now being reviewed following feedback.
The spokesperson said: “We understand there are concerns locally regarding the proposals. Subsequent to feedback from councillors and ongoing discussions with the council, we are currently reviewing how our proposals can respond to these concerns whilst ensuring the benefits of the scheme can be delivered.”
The Stop Trumpers Towers Action Group strongly disputed the developer’s account of the consultation exercise.
A spokesperson for the group told EALING.NEWS: “We feel the location of the ‘exhibition’ was wholly inappropriate, to the point of appearing deliberately evasive.”
The group said the venue was at least a 30-minute walk from the site, with no direct transport links and limited parking, and argued there were more suitable local venues for a public meeting, including church halls, the William Hobbayne Community Centre and function rooms.
The spokesperson added: “We do not feel we have been consulted at all. In fact, quite the opposite. We have been avoided, rebuffed and insulted.”
Campaigners also criticised the timing of the event and the wider consultation period, which ran during the run-up to Christmas and over the holiday period. They said publicity material did not make clear it had been produced by the developer and failed to highlight the height of the proposed towers.
The group said it did not oppose development in principle and supported genuinely affordable homes, businesses and infrastructure that suited the area.
The spokesperson said: “We are pleased to hear Fancourt Group Ltd are reviewing their plans, but are adamant that any new scheme should welcome and incorporate the views of local people, businesses and local infrastructure providers. Our community deserves nothing less.”
However, the developer’s response did not directly address several of the questions put to it by EALING.NEWS, including whether further consultation events will be held or why requests from residents to meet had not been taken up.
It also did not respond directly to a number of detailed planning and environmental concerns raised locally, including issues around flooding risk, sewer overflows and the impact on nearby protected green space.
Stop Trumpers Towers is also planning a musical protest about Ethorne Works which is set to take place in The Viaduct in Hanwell on Sunday (26 April 2026) at 6pm.
A decision on the development will be made by Ealing Council in the coming months.
