Forum Topic

L&Q Pausing Work at Acton Gardens?

It might be due to the weather but the last few times I've passed the sites at Acton Gardens there seems to be relatively little work going on. Then I saw this article: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/health-and-safety/lq-pausing-new-business-for-safety-review-25-02-2020/ A director of the company has said they are 'pausing new business' and are doing 'intrusive' inspections on existing buildings which have found that safety critical materials have been fitted incorrectly. We could take this at face value but I've always been a bit sceptical that all was well at Acton Gardens. The rehousing of former residents of demolished buildings seems to have gone reasonably smoothly and where flats are available at discounted rates by being deemed affordable they are always likely to find buyers but if L&Q can't sell the units that are being made available at the full market price they are facing a financial black hole because that is where the profit is going to come from. This new found caution may just be a symptom of a cash squeeze.

Kevin Howard ● 2168d9 Comments

This is a joint project between L&Q and Ealing council. Get your facts right. There was no gifting anything and there has been no cessation of any works. Its turning a blighted area into somewhere worth living with more green spaces than any other residential area of Acton. Don't like it? FIne, quite happy if some misery half armed with untruths stays away.

Tony Mansell ● 2153d

Remember they wee gifted the land by Ealing.

Libby Kemp ● 2155d

If they can't sell the market units and are forced to let them then they can't pay off borrowings. Fortunately for them the government will probably instruct banks to lend more to developers during the coronavirus crisis to try and keep the economy going.

Mark Evans ● 2155d

What a claustrophobic maze south Acton has become, nothing but buildings covering the horizon. Not sure who in their right mind would by these new flats at "market" rates.I hope construction stops indefinitely.

Jay Bower ● 2156d

There are 112 units they have failed to sell, this was about six months ago, and will now be let, a market rates.

Libby Kemp ● 2159d

Not really, they've been building and making plenty of money in the last 10 years and the funding was in place to build it way before that. The buildings are all mixed, so they cant just build flats for sale and not build the ones for rent. Theres no poor door, no dowdy nasty  builds next to the glittering ones

Tony Mansell ● 2162d

There does seem to be some activity on the site. Some of this could be units they are obliged to build to rehouse tenants of the former estate. The problem would come if they weren't able to sell the market price units which provide the funds for the construction of the replacement social housing.

Kevin Howard ● 2163d

They speeded up works for the last 5+ years and with the market being unsteady they probably have slowed it back down. Plenty of work going on every day though.

Tony Mansell ● 2163d

Kevin a new planning for 8.1  gone in for planningAfter that I heard that yes slow down on the next phases

Jon morris ● 2168d