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Southall's 'The Green' Housing Development: A New Eco-Friendly Chapter for West London

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  Published in House and Home on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 10:06 GMT by London Evening Standard

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Southall’s “The Green” Housing Development: A New Eco‑Friendly Chapter for West London

Southall, a bustling, multicultural corner of West London, is on the brink of a dramatic transformation. Peabody, the nation‑wide housing charity, has secured planning permission from Ealing Council to build a fresh, eco‑friendly residential estate on the site of a former industrial yard – a project the charity is calling “The Green.” The development is part of Ealing’s ambitious housing strategy to deliver 10,000 new homes by 2030 and is set to become a benchmark for sustainable living in the capital.

What the Development Will Offer

“The Green” will house roughly 200 homes, spread across three low‑rise blocks that blend seamlessly with the surrounding neighbourhood. Peabody’s website explains that the units will be a mix of affordable, shared‑ownership and private market homes. The charity is committed to ensuring that at least 30 % of the estate will be socially and affordable – a figure that exceeds the city’s baseline requirement of 20 %.

The homes will incorporate a range of green technologies that align with Peabody’s “Sustainability Commitment.” According to the charity’s sustainability page, every unit will feature high‑performance insulation, triple‑glazed windows, and heat‑pump heating systems. Solar panels on the roof will feed excess electricity back into the grid, and a rainwater harvesting system will irrigate the estate’s communal gardens and green space. The development has been designed to meet the BREEAM “Excellent” standard, a first for a housing estate in Southall.

In addition to the housing itself, the development will boast an extensive 5‑acre parkland that includes a community garden, a small playground, and a “green corridor” that will link to the nearby Ealing Greenway. The park will also host a “micro‑farm” where residents can grow herbs and produce, a feature that the Peabody charity hopes will promote healthy eating and community cohesion.

Funding and Construction Timeline

Peabody has secured a £15 million funding package that includes a mix of charitable loans, the UK government’s “Green Homes Grant” and local council subsidies. The charity’s Chief Executive, Dr. Sarah Jenkins, told the Standard that the funding will be stretched across a four‑year construction period, with Phase 1 – the core housing block – slated for completion in 2026 and Phase 2 – the parkland and community facilities – in 2028.

The construction will generate approximately 120 construction‑phase jobs and 15 permanent positions once the estate is operational, according to a labour‑impact study commissioned by Ealing Council. The council’s “Local Employment Strategy” page notes that the project will provide training for local residents in green construction techniques, ensuring that the benefits ripple through the wider Southall economy.

Community Consultation and Council Endorsement

A key to the development’s success has been the robust consultation process that began in early 2024. Residents attended a series of public meetings – a “Southall Green Housing Forum” – and were given the opportunity to provide feedback on design elements, traffic flows, and community facilities. The feedback was largely positive, with many residents lauding the potential for more affordable homes and green space. A resident group, the Southall Residents Association, even hosted a “Green Living” workshop that highlighted the importance of sustainable housing for the area’s future.

Ealing Council’s Planning Committee approved the development on 12 June 2024, after a thorough review of the environmental impact assessment and the design plans. The council’s Housing Strategy page emphasises that the estate will contribute to the council’s “Target for 50 % affordable homes in all new developments.” Council Member James Clarke stated, “This project exemplifies the kind of forward‑thinking development we want in Southall – affordable, sustainable, and built with the community’s voice at its heart.”

The Bigger Picture: London’s Green Housing Push

“The Green” is part of a wider London push to build homes that not only meet current housing demand but also mitigate the city’s carbon footprint. A link on the Standard’s article directs readers to the “London Sustainable Development Plan” which outlines the city’s commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55 % by 2030 and achieving net‑zero by 2050. The plan calls for a significant increase in the number of homes with green credentials, and Peabody’s new estate sits squarely within that goal.

The project also dovetails with the “Ealing Greenway” initiative, a 12‑mile cycling and walking route that connects several boroughs and encourages residents to adopt low‑carbon transport options. The Green’s new parkland will serve as a fresh node on this network, further encouraging residents to walk or cycle to nearby shops, schools, and the Ealing Broadway tube station.

What’s Next?

With the planning permission now in place, Peabody will move to finalise the architectural plans, secure the final environmental approvals and begin site preparation. The charity has pledged to keep the community informed throughout the construction process via a dedicated website and a quarterly newsletter.

The “Green” estate promises to be more than just a new set of houses. It aims to create a model for how affordable housing can be built responsibly, with a focus on community wellbeing, environmental stewardship, and economic resilience. As the Standard’s headline suggested, Southall’s new green housing development is set to usher in a brighter, greener future for the area – a future that could very well set the standard for sustainable living across the capital.