Our Tuesday lunch at UKREiiF 2026 brought together senior leaders to tackle a straightforward question: how can housing partnerships keep development going when the market is under pressure?
Chaired by John Dickie, with contributions from sponsors Alastair Butcher at Barratt London and Neil Hook and Lucy Atlee at Places for London, the conversation drew on Barratt London and Places for London’s West London partnership.
For Barratt and Places for London, the benefits of partnership were as much about how partners work together as about the model itself. And in this case, there is a shared understanding on both sides, with issues identified early and addressed quickly. That approach has helped keep schemes moving, even in a challenging environment.
Across West London, delivery is already underway, including at Bollo Lane in Ealing, where homes will be built to Passivhaus standards. While this can appear more expensive at first glance, the design reduces the need for centralised heating and cooling systems. That frees up space, allows for more homes overall, and gives residents greater control over their energy use and costs.
The West London Partnership model brings together complementary strengths. Places for London provides access to well-connected public land, alongside clear design principles and a sustainable development framework. Barratt London brings long-term capability, market knowledge, and delivery capacity across the geography.
The partnership also has a clear emphasis on skills and long-term value, with a training academy already delivered at Bollo Lane and plans to expand into other areas as well. Staying close to communities is integral to the partnership, aligning development with local priorities, and, where possible, delivering meanwhile uses to help maintain site activation and general momentum.
But, of course, the current pressure on viability remains. While this is not easily solved, Places for London can both take a long-term view on viability and a broader one, encompassing its entire portfolio. And it can work with a range of stakeholders to unblock issues that have traditionally slowed down development, such as the interface with operational transport infrastructure, with Places for London acting as a single point of access into Transport for London.
Looking more broadly across the capital, Places for London’s multiple partnerships across the city are contributing at scale, with around 8% of London’s housing supply coming forward this year on Places for London land. Identified Places for London sites could deliver around 23,000 homes over time, with further opportunities beyond that. Within this, the West London partnership alone has the potential to deliver around 4,500 homes.
The model discussed at lunch is simple and focused: public land brought forward within a clear framework, supported by long‑term delivery partners, and the ability and willingness to work through complexity. The West London partnership is starting to do this at scale – and proving that it works.
With thanks to Barratt London and Places for London for sponsoring the BusinessLDN Housing Partnerships Lunch at UKREiiF2026
About Barratt London
Barratt London is a market-leading residential developer, with over 40 years’ experience in the Capital, delivering up to 2,000 units each year. Barratt London is committed to providing an unbeatable customer experience and developing exceptional homes for all Londoners.
Barratt London is part of Barratt Developments PLC, the UK’s most recommended housebuilder.
About Places for London
With over 5,500 acres of land across the capital, TfL is one of London’s largest landowners. As Places for London, TfL’s property company, it is our mission to untap the potential of that land to improve existing properties and build new ones to meet the growing needs of our city.
We’re here to help create a greener, kinder, more connected London.
