Cabinet to Get Update on Charlton and Albany House Redevelopment
Funding dependent on construction starting within a year
Demolition work on the site proceeds. Picture: Brentford TV
October 14, 2025
With the next phase of the Charlton House and Albany House estate redevelopment set to start. Hounslow Council’s cabinet is set to consider a key procurement decision.
The meeting on Tuesday 21 October will be told that the council needs to act to safeguard significant grant funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (MHCLG), which is contingent on construction starting by September 2026.
The latest Cabinet report recommends initiating the tender process to appoint a main contractor for the redevelopment, citing urgency due to grant conditions and escalating market pressures. A revised design—developed since June 2025—has reduced building height, altered balcony shapes, and reconfigured apartment layouts to cut costs and avoid underground water main diversions. These changes follow the termination of a previous Pre-Construction Service Agreement (PCSA) after cost estimates exceeded the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget.
The Council’s regeneration team aims to complete the tender design by October 2025, with contractor selection expected by March 2026. The final appointment will depend on affordability within the forthcoming 2026 HRA Business Plan, which is being updated to reflect inflation, interest rates, and anticipated changes in government housing policy.
The Charlton and Albany House scheme was first approved in January 2020 as part of Hounslow’s wider commitment to deliver 1,000 new council homes. In a February 2021 ballot, 87.1% of residents voted in favour of regeneration, with a turnout of 81.4%. Planning permission was granted in August 2022, and demolition of the existing buildings began in May 2025.
The development will replace outdated housing stock with 100% affordable flats for social rent, alongside retail units and green space. It is designed to meet high energy efficiency standards, contributing to the Council’s climate goals and addressing fuel poverty. The scheme also responds to acute housing pressures in the borough, where over 4,400 households are currently on the waiting list and homelessness presentations have risen by 226% since 2018.
The report outlines two options: proceed with procurement now or defer until the Outline Business Case (OBC) is approved. While deferral would allow for further financial modelling, it risks forfeiting grant funding and delaying progress on a strategically vital scheme. The
If approved, the procurement process will run from October 2025 to February 2026, with contractor appointment scheduled for March 2026. The updated 2026 HRA Business Plan, due in early 2026, will determine final affordability and delivery strategy.
If you have any questions about the project you can email CharltonHouseRegen@hounslow.gov.uk.
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