Ealing Council has made the tough decision to flatten 105 half-built homes after the collapse of Henry Construction. The homes, part of a £40 million project to build Passivhaus-standard housing in Greenford, Southall, and West Ealing, were left unfinished when Henry Construction went into administration in June 2023. After careful consideration, the council determined that demolition is the most cost-effective and sustainable solution, rather than attempting to restart construction at the incomplete sites. The sites earmarked for demolition include 53 flats at Dean Gardens, West Ealing; 25 units at Chesterton and Evesham Close, Greenford; 11 homes at Wood End, Greenford; 10 homes at Shackleton Road, Southall; and six homes at Norwood Road, Southall. While the council initially committed to completing the projects, changing viability pressures and remediation risks have led to this difficult decision. A spokesperson for the council explained that in-depth assessments concluded that demolishing some of the existing, partly built structures would provide a more cost-effective and better long-term solution than attempting to restart building. This controversial decision highlights the challenges faced by construction projects, and invites discussion on the best course of action in such circumstances.
