Northolt: contractor search begins for 100 Mandeville council homes

Does Ealing Council’s decision mean construction of 100 homes at Mandeville will begin immediately? No. On 7 October, the council’s cabinet agreed to start the contractor procurement process and approved funding for further preparation of the Northolt scheme. Further decisions will still be required before a main building contract can be signed.

What was approved

The council will run a mini-competition through the Development Contractors Lot of the Notting Hill Genesis framework. The selected firm would first work under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement, with a main works contract potentially following later. The process is subject to confirmation of Greater London Authority grant funding.

Cabinet also approved a capital budget of £438,597.54, funded through borrowing. The money is intended to cover Stage 3+ design development, preparation of the employer’s requirements and tender documents, external professional advice, and internal project management through to contractor selection.

The decision therefore allows the council to test the market, obtain competitive tenders and develop more reliable cost information. A separate report is expected to return to cabinet before the Pre-Construction Services Agreement and main works contract are awarded. No winning contractor has been announced at this stage.

What is planned in Northolt

The Mandeville scheme is intended to provide 100 new council homes for social rent. Earlier information from the council describes a mixture of apartments and townhouses of different sizes. The proposal also includes landscaping, play space and shared outdoor areas around the Northolt Park estate.

The council has said that the homes are intended to meet high energy-efficiency standards, helping to reduce emissions and future residents’ fuel bills. These are features of the proposed development, not confirmation that construction has been completed or homes are ready to allocate.

What still needs to happen

Further approvals, completion of design and procurement work, and confirmation of GLA funding are required before construction can proceed. The Strategic Director of Resources must approve the business case before the council moves ahead with procuring the main contractor.

An earlier council timetable said construction could begin in 2028, with homes expected to be ready in 2030, subject to approvals, planning permission and successful procurement. Those dates should not be treated as unconditional guarantees.

Why the decision matters

The official decision record says delay would increase exposure to construction inflation and postpone delivery of the 100 homes. The procurement stage is designed to produce market-tested costs and improve the assessment of contractor risk.

For Northolt residents, the key distinction is between approval to prepare and run a procurement exercise and approval to start building. The scheme has moved forward, but the award of contracts and the start of construction remain subject to later decisions.