· Brent Council and Wates Residential celebrate the structural completion of a new development in the Wembley Housing Zone
· Zephaniah House, the former Ujima House council building, will deliver 54 new and affordable homes
· Construction is set to be completed by the end of 2026
Brent Council and Wates Residential have celebrated the structural completion of Zephaniah House, marking a major step forward in delivering 54 new affordable homes for local people in the heart of Wembley. At an event celebrating the milestone, figures from the two partners gathered alongside Tom Copley, London’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, and figures from the GLA including Krupesh Hirani, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow.
Located directly on the north side of Wembley High Road, Zephaniah House is transforming the former Ujima House site into a welcoming residential community. When complete at the end of 2026, the development will provide new high-quality homes along with a café and workspace that will serve local residents and businesses.
Zephaniah House is one of two developments forming the Wembley Housing Zone, alongside Cecil Avenue. Together these two projects form a central part of the long-term regeneration of the town centre and play an important role in meeting Brent’s housing needs requirements.
Across the High Road, Brent Council and Wates Residential are also progressing plans at Cecil Avenue, the site of the former Copland School site. The development reached structural completion in September 2025 and will deliver 237 new homes, including 84 affordable homes and a range of properties for private sale under the name ‘The Pages’. It will also provide a publicly accessible garden and play area, commercial spaces to support local businesses, and is expected to complete by the end of the year.
Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, said:
“Delivering new, affordable and high-quality homes for Londoners is our top priority. I’m really pleased to be working closely with Brent Council and other partners to support families into housing where they can put down vital roots in the local community. It’s exciting that 54 new affordable homes will be completed at Zephaniah House by the end of this year, supporting wider regeneration in the local area, as we build a better and fairer city for everyone.”
Cllr Teo Benea, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Property, said:
“Reaching this milestone at Zephaniah House is a real achievement and a reminder of why this work matters so much. Building new affordable homes is among the most important things we do as a council because it changes lives for years to come. A decent, genuinely affordable home gives families security, dignity and a foundation for people to put down roots in their community. At a time when too many families are being held back by the housing crisis, this is how we tackle inequality and build a fairer Brent.”
Cllr Fleur Donnelly Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
“We have always been clear that our ambition is to deliver as many affordable homes as we can. Zephaniah House will help reduce our waiting list and give families the chance to live in high quality homes within their own community. This is what it looks like when a council commits to tackling the housing crisis head on.”
Pip Prongué, Executive Managing Director, Wates Residential, said:
“Delivering at this pace is a fantastic achievement in a period when housing delivery has been difficult across the sector and it reflects the commitment of everyone involved.
“Our partnership with Brent Council is a major part of this success. We share a clear ambition for Wembley and that shared focus is helping us create places where communities can thrive.”
Beyond new and affordable homes, the combined projects are delivering an extensive social value package for the local community. Wates Residential has provided just under £129,000 through Community Chest grants for local organisations and will contribute a total of £300,000 over the lifespan of the development. More broadly, the project is also generating local employment, with 362 Brent residents working on the scheme to date.