Westminster (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Westminster City Council approved 144 new homes at 291 Harrow Road, including 48 affordable homes and 24 for Adult Social Care. Councillor Ellie Ormsby supports this green, inclusive plan.
As City of Westminster News reported, Westminster City Council’s plan for new homes at 291 Harrow Road was approved on Tuesday, July 8th, 2025. The project will build 144 new homes in 3 separate buildings. These buildings will be 15, 10, and 5 storeys tall. The site was once part of the Harrow Road section of St Mary’s Hospital before it was changed in the 1980s.
According to officials, half of the new homes will be affordable. This includes 48 affordable homes for general use and 24 homes meant for Adult Social Care. These 24 homes will be rented at social rent and will help people who need extra care.
The other 72 homes will be sold on the private market. The mix of housing is meant to serve different people in the area. The plan was approved by the council’s planning committee with a close vote; 3 councillors voted in favour, and 2 voted against.
What makes 291 Harrow Road a model for green, inclusive housing?
According to officials, the housing plan at 291 Harrow Road also shows that Westminster City Council wants to protect the environment. The new homes will be built in a smart way to use less energy. The buildings will face the right way to get more sunlight and fresh air. They will have better walls and windows to keep heat in and out when needed.
They mentioned that people will not need to use heaters or air conditioners as much. Because of this, the project will cut carbon pollution by 70% compared to normal rules. The land was part of a hospital long ago and has not been used since the 1980s.
24 of the 144 homes will be for Adult Social Care services. These homes will be offered at social rent prices. Councillor Ellie Ormsby explained that this plan is to help people in Westminster who need extra support, ensuring they have safe and secure places to live.
“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,”
Councillor Ellie Ormsby said.