Laura Jenkinson

This week I chaired the first meeting of the Ealing Development Forum, a quarterly meeting with a range of developers and RPs focused on getting London building again. The insightful Tim Craine set the scene with a fascinating but unavoidably bleak assessment of the London housing market. We then moved on to discussing what needs to happen in order to bring about a London housing market recovery. Points covered - - Cllr Shital Manro explained Ealing Council (London Borough of Ealing) is a pragmatic pro-growth council committed to delivering the homes needed to address homelessness and temporary accommodation pressures - There were a range of views on how long it will take for a full market recovery, from 3yrs to a lifetime! - Many felt only zero percent affordable is all that is currently viable but it was appreciated that is not a realistic new fast-track threshold, around 20% was considered a more realistic replacement threshold level - There were different views on whether residential should have a lower threshold than PBSA and co-live to level the playing field - It was appreciated that the threshold approach doesn't work without Late Stage Reviews(LSR) but there was broad agreement that LSRs require reform to make developments more fundable and they should be done on an open book basis - A large proportion of the 10yr £11.7bn Greater London Authority grant needs to be frontloaded over next 3yrs and £300-325k grant is needed to make social housing viable - SME developers face additional challenges, particularly securing competitive construction costs - Ealing was praised for having recently completed bulk acquisition deals to deliver 400 new affordable homes and more such deals are needed across London given the lack of BTR investment and slowdown in the private sale market Whilst there wasn't a ton of optimism in the room there was a strong recognition that the challenges can only be addressed by working in partnership. Jennifer Peters Emma Osmundsen Alex Jackson Paul Rickard Marcus Bate Angie Hooper Harry de Lotbiniere Nick Cuff Matthew Lamb James Penfold William McKenna Phil Church Helen McManus Michael Keaveney Simon Ryan Declan Higgins Tim Steer

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We have secured consent from Camden Council for the refurbishment of 26 Red Lion Square, a 106,584 sq ft (NIA) speculative office development in Holborn. The redevelopment will deliver Grade A workspace across eight floors, with enhanced ground floor amenities and new rooftop terraces offering views across London. Designed by Stiff + Trevillion Architects, the scheme includes upgraded façades and new retail and F&B units along Theobalds Road, supporting design excellence and contributing to Holborn’s evolving commercial landscape as a prime choice for office occupiers. Targeting BREEAM “Outstanding”, the project prioritises energy and water efficiency, reinforcing our commitment to investing in high-quality, sustainable assets. This refurbishment is part of our broader office development portfolio across London and beyond, following the near completion of 101 Bayham in Camden, future plans for 12 Smithfield, and over 1.5 million sq ft of development activity in Cambridge. Together, these projects reflect our drive: to create long-term value for our members through resilient, forward-looking investment solutions. Read more: https://ow.ly/Imh650WBRQ0 #BeBetterTogether #Railpen #RedLionSquare #Holborn #Office

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We are proud to be working in partnership with the City of London Corporation to deliver 91 new affordable homes across four buildings, helping to meet the urgent demand for genuinely affordable housing in Islington. Designed by Maccreanor Lavington, the development will offer a mix of studio, one, two, three, and four-bedroom homes. Half of the homes will be allocated to Islington Council tenants, providing safe, high-quality accommodation for those on the council’s housing waiting list. Beyond new homes, we are creating social value through apprenticeships, work placements, and volunteering at local community events. Residents will also benefit from community-focused facilities, including a new community centre, estate office, two playgrounds, a games area, and resident gardens. Sustainability is central to the design, with homes built to a high Home Quality Mark, reducing energy bills and minimising environmental impact. The buildings will be named Swaledale House, Herdwick House, Ryeland House, and Aberdale House, reflecting residents’ votes and the site’s history as sheep pens at the Metropolitan Cattle Market, honouring the estate’s original name, Sheep Lairs. #affordablehousing #socialvalue #sustainabledesign #Islington #communityliving #YorkWayEstate

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