Community Land Trust proposal for Marston Court site in Ealing

Ealing Citizens to work on Community Land Trust proposal following a decade of campaigning

Ealing Citizens is working with Ealing Council for a new community-led housing development at Marston Court, which could deliver around 20 genuinely affordable homes.

The opportunity comes after more than a decade of campaigning by Ealing Citizens, a local alliance of faith, education and charity organisations and part of West London Citizens.

The proposal is being developed in partnership with London Community Land Trust, part of the growing Community Land Trust (CLT) movement that has been expanding across the UK over the past decade to address London’s housing affordability crisis, which has led to only 26% of young Londoners owning a home with a mortgage and 183,000 Londoners homeless in 2025.

Community Land Trusts are non-profit organisations created to ensure homes remain permanently affordable for local people. The land is owned collectively by the community, while homes are sold or rented at prices linked to local incomes rather than market prices.

Across London, CLTs have shown that community-led housing can deliver high-quality homes while giving local people a real voice in development. Projects supported by London Community Land Trust have pioneered this approach by working with residents, councils and local institutions to create permanently affordable homes.

The potential redevelopment of Marston Court now presents an opportunity to realise that vision.

Ealing Citizens, alongside the council, local residents and partners, will work together to develop a community-led plan for permanently affordable homes owned and stewarded by the community.

Jackie Ashmenall, Community Leader from Christ the Saviour Church, a member institution of Ealing Citizens, said:

“I’m so proud of our housing team who have never given up hope that one day we would see genuinely, permanently affordable homes built in our borough. These homes will mean security and opportunity for people who are so often squeezed out of the housing market — key workers, young families and young people.

We have worked tirelessly for over 10 years on this campaign because we believe the Community Land Trust model offers something different: a fairer system where homes stay affordable not just today, but for future generations. That’s why this moment means so much to our community.”

Henry Wilson, a young resident involved with Ealing Citizens, said:

“I work full-time but I can just about afford to rent one room in a shared house, because owning a home in London feels impossible. For many young people like me, the housing market is completely out of reach.

Through Ealing Citizens I’ve learned how Community Land Trusts can give young working people a real chance to own a home and put down roots. That’s why I’m excited to be part of this campaign and hopeful we’ll see more genuinely affordable homes built across the borough.”

Councillor Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council, said:

“We promised to find a suitable site for a community land trust during this council term, and agreeing Marston Court as the preferred location means we are keeping that promise.

“This is an important step towards creating genuinely affordable homes that stay affordable for local people. CLT homes give residents more say in how their homes and neighbourhoods are shaped, and this work will help more people put down roots in the borough.”