John Lewis Partnership is advancing its strategic plan to build 10,000 homes by appealing a delayed decision from Ealing Council.
- A proposal for 428 homes, including affordable units, was submitted in June 2023, with no decision yet from the council.
- John Lewis aims to transform existing retail sites into residential spaces as part of a diversification strategy.
- An appeal to the Planning Inspectorate is underway due to ‘non-determination’ by the council.
- Building is expected to commence in 2025, targeting completion by 2029, with significant economic impacts projected.
John Lewis Partnership is taking decisive action to progress its ambitious plan to develop 10,000 homes over the next decade. Faced with a delay from Ealing Council regarding its application for 428 homes above the West Ealing Waitrose, the company has announced plans to appeal. The original application, filed on June 30, 2023, includes 83 affordable rented properties. With nearly a year elapsed without a decision, John Lewis now turns to the Planning Inspectorate to move forward.
Katherine Russell, John Lewis Partnership’s build-to-rent director, expressed the urgency of this initiative, stating, “We have taken the decision to appeal for non-determination of our planning application to build new rental homes nearly one year on from first submitting it to Ealing Council.” She emphasized the critical need for housing and economic growth, noting the strategic importance of redeveloping brownfield sites, particularly given the site’s proximity to the Crossrail station.
This effort forms part of John Lewis’s broader strategy to diversify income streams, with a significant £500 million joint venture with Abrdn aimed at reshaping its retail properties into residential spaces. The plan includes not only the West Ealing site but also projects in Bromley and Reading. Dame Sharon White, steering the company towards generating 40% of profits from non-retail ventures by 2030, has laid the groundwork for this transformation.
Building operations are slated to begin in 2025, with an anticipated completion in 2029. This timing aligns with John Lewis’s strategic goals to leverage existing assets for new revenue streams, thereby enhancing community infrastructure and addressing the housing shortage. The project’s success is pivotal not only for John Lewis but also for the wider community, promising substantial new housing stock and economic benefits.
John Lewis Partnership’s appeal underscores its commitment to housing development and economic diversification amid planning obstacles.
