Hoardings have been erected around Horsenden Farmhouse in Perivale after Ealing Council issued an urgent safety notice, a move that has restricted access at the site and raised concerns among community groups and businesses operating from the farm.
Visitors to Horsenden Farm this week have seen fencing installed around the historic farmhouse following updated advice from building surveyors that structural defects posed a potential risk. The council has ordered the creation of a safety exclusion zone, temporarily closing off parts of the site and limiting vehicle access while the hoardings are put in place.
Friends group says notice came with little warning
The changes have come at short notice for those involved in running the community hub. Friends of Horsenden Hill, a volunteer-led group that supports activities and enterprises at the farm, said the notice was issued late on Friday and that work was due to begin at the start of the following week.
A spokesperson told EALING.NEWS: “The sudden safety notice was issued by the council’s agents on Friday afternoon (12 December 2025), notifying us that works would begin on the Monday morning (15 December 2025).”
The group said its immediate focus was on safety and on working with contractors to manage the practical impact of the works. The spokesperson said: “Our first priority must be public safety and we are working with the council appointed contractors to ensure operations to erect the hoarding run smoothly.”
Ealing Council’s surveyors have cited structural defects that have been present for a number of years, with organisers at the farm saying the updated survey advice has triggered the introduction of a safety exclusion zone. On-site stakeholders have been working with contractors on logistics and reorganisation to maximise safety, with public vehicle access temporarily restricted while the work is carried out.
Friends of Horsenden Hill said the exclusion zone would have a significant impact on how the site is used but that efforts were being made to keep the farm running. The spokesperson added: “In the meantime our dedicated body of volunteers have sprung into action with heroic efforts to make temporary adjustments to the site to ensure activities can continue and the local community can still enjoy what they have come to expect of a visit to the farm.”
The group has also sought to reassure visitors that activities would continue, including scheduled events, and that on-site businesses would remain open with revised arrangements. Organisers said that, while access routes and seating layouts may change, they were aiming to keep Horsenden Farm operating in a way familiar to regular visitors.
Brewery says cordon covers key seating areas and access routes
Perivale Brewery, which operates from the site alongside food business The Horsenden Loaf, said the cordoned-off area covered key parts of its operation. A spokesperson for the brewery told EALING.NEWS: “We were emailed about the hoarding going up at lunchtime on Friday 12th December 2025, and workers arrived at the farm the next day.”
The brewery said the footprint of the exclusion zone had immediate consequences for trading. The spokesperson revealed: “The area being cordoned off covers our main two seating areas, as well as access to our fermentation room and The Horsenden Loaf, who make the amazing pizzas every weekend.”
The business said volunteers helped relocate equipment quickly so it could keep operating in the short term.
The spokesperson added: “Naturally, we’ve had to react very quickly, and this is where the magic of Horsenden happens. Over 20 volunteers helped move our stretch tents, seating and equipment out of the zoned off areas, meaning we can continue to trade in the short term.”
While acknowledging that safety needed to come first, the brewery said it wanted more clarity about the inspections and what steps would be taken to protect both the building and the longer-term future of the site. The spokesperson said: “Our number one priority is the safety of our customers, our staff and the volunteers on the farm, so we’re keen to know what survey has been done to prompt this sudden action, and how we can safeguard the farmhouse so that our special community can continue to thrive there.”
Calls for clarity on long-term plans for farmhouse
Friends of Horsenden Hill said it was seeking further information from the council about longer-term plans and what support might be available to protect the future of the community-created hub. The group said it wanted reassurance about the future of the enterprises and activities that have grown at the farm in recent years. The spokesperson said: “We are determined that the community-led activities and enterprises at the farm will have a long term future, including Perivale Brewery and Horsenden Loaf. We are in the process of establishing communication with the council about this.”
The group said the full impact of the exclusion zone was not yet clear, but it hoped the situation could be used to deepen cooperation with the council. The spokesperson said: “The long term impact remains to be seen, but we hope to use this as a catalyst to strengthen our already longstanding partnership with the council, supporting their priorities for the future of Ealing as laid out in their Land and Property Strategy 2023-27.”
The brewery said it was also seeking improved communication with the council, working alongside Friends of Horsenden Hill to establish what the next steps would be. The spokesperson said: “To that end, we’re working closely with the Friends of Horsenden on establishing better communication with the council and working out next steps.”
Ealing Council statement in full
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “The council is responsible for health and safety at Horsenden Farm. Following advice from building surveyors on worsening structural cracks and roof instability, we took urgent action to install safety hoardings around the farmhouse with a six-metre exclusion zone to protect visitors, staff, and animals before further deterioration occurs over the winter.
“In advance of erecting the hoardings, we put notices around the site and emailed key stakeholders to tell them what was going to happen. We are continuing to work with interested parties, and we are listening to their concerns. Following this engagement, we made safe adjustments to facilitate better access for site users.
“We appreciate the importance of Horsenden Farm to the community, and we are exploring several options for the farmhouse’s future taking public safety into account. We are engaging with the Friends of Horsenden to evaluate options which consider the long-term sustainability and viability of the site.”
