Hounslow Council is set to push ahead with plans to build 164 homes across five tower blocks for social rent at the former Homebase site in Brentford in 2025, despite rising costs.

The project, on Syon Lane, has faced a number of delays due to a planning review by the Secretary of State and regulatory changes.

Planning permission had been given by the council over three years ago, however the application was called in by Robert Jenrick, the then Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government.

A public inquiry was held, but continued to be delayed. However, Michael Gove gave the project the green light in December 2023.

Due to these delays, the development has seen costs increase. The delay also meant the council had to incorporate new safety legislation into plans and bear the cost of inflation.

In a report, the council said: "The purchase price has increased due to rapidly increasing build costs and changes required to the design of the scheme to reflect the Building Safety Act 2022 requirement for a second staircase in buildings over 18m tall, as well as improvements to the layout, mix and quality of accommodation.

"This followed a delay in planning approval from the Secretary of State."

The site on Syon Lane, built in 1979, had housed a large Homebase store prior to its closure in April 2024.

Bulldozers reportedly arrived in late October to begin demolishing the empty store.

Birdseye view of former Homebase site set to become flats (credit: Hounslow Council).

The new plans decrease the number of studio and one-bedroom flats, in favour of larger family homes.

There will no longer be any studio flats, compared to four in the previous plans. There will also be a new Tesco store on site.

There will be 54 one-bedroom flats (a decrease of four), 65 two-bedroom flats (an increase of seven), 40 three-bedroom flats, and five four-bedroom flats. These will be broken down into five blocks, one of which will be 16 storeys high.

The developer, St Edwards Homes Ltd, is also proposing to introduce 16 discounted market sale homes to the scheme.

This would have to be secured through planning, however it would not be part of the agreement with the council's purchase.

This would give the opportunity for a person living or working in the borough to purchase a home for a discount of 20 per cent off the market value.

Cllr Tom Bruce, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Assets, Regeneration and Development, said: "While costs have increased in line with the wider impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the construction industry, this revised sum has been carefully assessed to ensure it represents value for money for the council.

At a time of unprecedented housing need, this demonstrates the critical role of delivery partnerships in unlocking much-needed homes for Hounslow residents and addressing the housing crisis head-on."

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