Nub News finds that the number of social housing units have reduced in the Friary Park development by 7% from original proposals.

The project from developers Mount Anvil will bring 1,345 new flats to Acton with the original planning application stating that 237 (18%) of the homes were for social rent.

In its latest application waiting to be approved, that number is now 152 (11%) - a drop of 85 units.

This means that there will be 73 fewer social rent flats at Friary Park than there were before the Mount Anvil redevelopment programme began back in 2021.

The social housing units in the project will include 49 one-bedroom, 67 two-bedroom, 34 three-bedroom, and two four-bedroom homes.

A table from the latest Financial Viability Assessment from Mount Anvil (credit: Planning application).

In Ealing Council's Local Plan Regulation 19, which is also yet to be approved, states: "Acton has a mix of housing types that cater to different groups, including semi-detached houses, terraced houses, and flats.

"However, there is an opportunity to provide a wider range of housing types and tenures.

"This could include family housing and alternative accommodation types that provide high quality affordable housing options that are accessible to low-income and younger people."

Local campaign group, Cap The Towers, say: "Cap the Towers is shocked and dismayed at this report in Ealing Nub News that the Friary Park developers are proposing to reduce social rent housing at all, let alone to such an extreme degree. 

"When Mount Anvil/Peabody made their initial application to redevelop the Friary Park estate back in 2019, they made a commitment to provide 237 apartments for social rent. 

"They reaffirmed this in 2022. Now, at the final stage of their development, they have reneged on that promise and have stated that there will be only 152 social rent flats. 

"Councillors on the Planning Committee who approved the earlier applications constantly emphasised how necessary it was to have that commitment from the developer to allocate 237 flats for social rent. 

"How can any Council, in particular a Labour Council, be even considering this application with such a reduction in desperately needed social housing? 

"Mount Anvil is offering 85 fewer social rent flats than they promised and, most scandalously, 73 fewer than the original 225 homes which these developers have demolished! 

"Surely Ealing Council cannot allow this to happen. This planning application must fail."

Mount Anvil has also been approached for comment.

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