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The London Borough of Ealing plans to demolish the partly built Dean Gardens housing scheme after the collapse of contractor Henry Construction, signalling a shift in its approach to stalled developments and raising questions over future affordable housing delivery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Ealing Council is preparing to demolish the partly built Dean Gardens housing development in West Ealing, a project that has sat abandoned for over two years following the administration of Henry Construction. The council is expected to make a formal decision on the demolition at a cabinet meeting scheduled for 12 November. The original \u00a315.6 million scheme, launched in 2022, was intended to deliver 53 new homes, including 21 affordable-rent units, alongside a public car park and commercial space. However, construction ground to a halt in June 2023 when Henry Construction, the principal contractor, entered administration.<\/p>\n
The project\u2019s stalled state has left visible deterioration on site due to prolonged exposure to the elements, prompting the council to seek approval to tender a demolition contract. An Ealing Council spokesperson conveyed to Property Week that removing the unfinished structures would likely present a more cost-effective option and pave the way for higher-quality future development. This reflects a significant shift from earlier statements in 2023, when the council remained optimistic about appointing a new contractor to complete the scheme, despite the setbacks caused by Henry\u2019s collapse.<\/p>\n
Henry Construction\u2019s insolvency has created widespread disruption not only at Dean Gardens but across Ealing borough. The company had secured a substantial \u00a340 million contract from the council in early 2022 to construct 145 homes spread over six council sites, part of Ealing\u2019s Broadway Living housing programme aimed at delivering affordable homes. These projects included sites at Shackleton Road, Chesterton Close, Evesham Close, Wood End Library, and Norwood Road. This administration has cast uncertainty over the completion of multiple developments, some left partially built or stalled indefinitely.<\/p>\n
The collapse of Henry Construction, once ranked among the UK\u2019s top contractors with reported revenues exceeding \u00a3400 million in 2022, has reverberated beyond Ealing. Suppliers and subcontractors reportedly remain unpaid, complicating recovery efforts and delaying other major developments, such as the \u00a392 million Trocoll House project in Barking, whose delivery timeline has slipped by two years after Henry\u2019s withdrawal. In Haringey, a separate housing scheme affected by the insolvency had to be scrapped and redesigned entirely. This pattern underscores the broader impacts on London\u2019s housing market from the firm\u2019s sudden demise.<\/p>\n
Ealing Council has terminated its contracts with Henry Construction and is working closely with the Greater London Authority, with insurance policies helping to mitigate some financial losses. The council emphasises a commitment to transparency as it navigates these difficulties. However, the fallout has drawn criticism, including from local political groups who question the council\u2019s vetting process for development partners amid repeated failures and delays in delivering new homes vital to the borough.<\/p>\n
Adding to the council’s housing challenges, this is the second instance within a year where demolition has been deemed necessary for recently built but unoccupied housing blocks \u2014 earlier in 2025, a block in Acton was demolished owing to serious fire safety concerns. The troubles at Dean Gardens and other sites highlight the precarious nature of social housing development and the ongoing tension between ambitious regeneration programmes and the practical realities of construction risk management.<\/p>\n
The council remains poised to make critical decisions in November that will shape West Ealing\u2019s housing landscape for years to come. The demolition of Dean Gardens, if approved, will likely trigger fresh planning, investment, and efforts to secure reliable contractors to fulfil the borough’s commitment to affordable homes. Meanwhile, other sites left in limbo by Henry Construction continue to be assessed individually, a process that will require careful balancing of cost, safety, and long-term strategic housing goals.<\/p>\n