Planning Approved for 144 Units in Westminster
A development that aims to tackle housing need with mix of council, social care and private homes
About the Scheme:
Westminster City Council has launched the search for a main contractor to deliver its £80m landmark housing scheme at 291 Harrow Road.
Planning approval was granted in July 2025, with construction targeted to begin in March 2026. The development will provide 144 new homes across three buildings rising to 15, 10 and five storeys.
Half of the homes will be affordable, including:
- 27 General Needs Social Rent council homes, with a focus on family-sized units
- 24 Adult Social Care units at social rent
- 21 intermediate rent homes for key workers
The remaining 72 homes will be offered for private sale, helping to cross-subsidise delivery of the affordable units.
Designed to cut carbon emissions by 70%
Designed to follow the “Be Lean, Clean, Green and Seen” energy hierarchy, the scheme adopts a fabric-first approach to maximise efficiency through passive design. High-performance façades and modern servicing equipment will significantly reduce energy demand.
The development will also integrate air source heat pumps and solar photovoltaic panels to harness renewable energy. Overall, the scheme is projected to achieve a 70% reduction in carbon emissions across the site, both during construction and once occupied – far exceeding the Greater London Authority’s 35% target.
Ellie Ormsby, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Renters, said:
“291 Harrow Road presents a fantastic opportunity for us to deliver a greater number of high-quality homes for social rent – a necessary step considering there are over 6,000 households on Westminster’s housing waiting list – while also delivering on our ambitious sustainability commitments as one of the capital’s greenest developments.
Moreover, a large proportion of these homes, a sixth of the total number, are allocated for use by adult social care services, where we are seeing growing demand. We’re excited to develop a building which embraces inclusivity and delivers for the diverse needs across our community.”
