Developers may be prevented from starting projects in west London until 2035 because the electricity grid has run out of capacity.
The Greater London Authority told developers this week that it may take more than a decade for grid capacity to be increased to sustain new developments in Hillingdon, Ealing and Hounslow.
The GLA’s message said: “Major new applicants to the distribution network… including housing developments, commercial premises and industrial activities, will have to wait several years to receive new electricity connections.”
The GLA added that pressure on the grid in west London had been exacerbated by a number of data centres being built in recent years, which use fibre optic cables running along the M4 corridor.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “very concerned” that the issue could affect the delivery of thousands of homes. The boroughs accounted for about 11% of London’s housing supply in 2019-20.
Developers were still trying to understand the potential effect of the GLA’s message, but it was thought that developments of 25 units or more would be affected. David O’Leary, policy director at the Home Builders Federation, said: “Our understanding is that you just can’t build them.”
The Times (£)
The FT (£)
Daily Mail
