Clare Welsby is a Green Party candidate standing in Hanwell Broadway in the Ealing Council local elections on 7 May 2026. She sets out her views.
“Ealing Green Party supports the residents of Hanwell in their opposition to the proposed development at Trumpers Way as it stands, and the current planning application.
“As Green Party candidates for Hanwell Broadway, Andrew Walkley, Natalia Kubica and 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 the residents on the doorstep.
“The Trumpers Way site received approval for development in 2020 but has been left empty for 6 years and was shelved because it was economically unviable – even though it had limited provision for affordable housing.
“The proposal breaks the Council’s own development plan that recommends a maximum of six storeys for the area from 2024 and should apply now, 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 local infrastructure issues addressed, and that supports existing and new residents, is what is needed. The housing we need should be publicly funded and not driven by private developers’ profit margins.
“The new development seeks to take advantage of the Government’s new fund for social housing and create 100% social housing. But for it to be viable – i.e. for the developer to make a ‘reasonable’ profit – the development has grown to create 287 social homes in towers of up to 15 storeys tall. The height is real concern for residents, and continues to be following recent discussion with planners, as is the impact on local infrastructure. Campaigners continue to challenge the height of the development.
“The proposal makes clear that the developer does not foresee making any great contribution to local services as this will eat into those profits and make the project ‘unviable’ once again.
“Among that essential infrastructure needed for Trumpers Way are flood prevention measures and an improved sewerage system. Even without catering for potentially 1000 new residents, there have been repeated examples of raw sewage being released into the River Brent and backing up into residents’ gardens in the neighbouring streets. Thames Water state that they expect Trumpers Way to meet all Government targets for storm overflows by 2030 – 2035. Investment plans for storm discharge sites | Thames Water. Which means it does not meet this basic measure now. This needs to be resolved as part of any development at Trumpers Way.
“The Hands-off Hanwell – Stop Trumpers Towers community group asked to speak to developers but were refused, however they will continue to challenge this development.
“Come along and support them at a Musical Protest in The Viaduct, 221 Uxbridge Road, Hanwell, London, W7 3TD, Sunday 26th April 2026 at 6pm https://www.facebook.com/groups/3277023679125799/
Full coverage of the Ealing Council local elections and candidates standing, can be found here.
