Key Points
- Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent, is undergoing a major housing zone regeneration designated by the Greater London Authority (GLA), aiming to deliver 15,000 new homes by 2034.
- Already, 6,000 homes have been built in the area, but the regeneration is not even halfway complete.
- A significant milestone was marked this week with a ‘topping out’ ceremony on February 23, 2026, celebrating the structural completion of Zephaniah House, a 100% affordable housing block providing 54 new homes.
- Zephaniah House replaces the former Ujima House, an office block built in the 1980s that served as headquarters for Ujima Housing Association—a prominent Black and minority ethnic housing provider which became insolvent in 2008—acquired by Brent Council in July 2017 with GLA grant funding.
- The site was demolished in 2024, with main construction starting after Wates Residential was selected as Brent Council’s developer partner in 2023; the project includes workspace and a café, due for completion by the end of 2026.
- Zephaniah House is named after Benjamin Zephaniah, the late British writer, poet, and actor who was a patron of the original Ujima Housing Association and passed away in 2023.
- This forms part of two key sites in the Wembley Housing Zone: alongside Cecil Avenue (former Copland School site), which topped out in September 2025 and will deliver 237 homes (including 84-87 affordable), commercial spaces, a public garden, play area, and community hall by end-2026.
- The ceremony was attended by Tom Copley, London’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, Krupesh Hirani, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow, and representatives from Brent Council and Wates Residential.
- Broader context includes falling inflation and London affordable housing targets reduced from 35% to 20%, potentially boosting 2026 development; Cecil Avenue and Zephaniah House (formerly Ujima) on council-owned land are on track for later 2026 completion.
- Developments emphasise social value: Wates has provided nearly £129,000 in Community Chest grants, totalling £300,000 over the project lifespan, and employed 362 Brent residents so far.
- Wembley is Brent’s largest growth area, linking Wembley Central with Wembley Park, including new retail, jobs, public realm improvements, and accessibility enhancements.
Wembley, (North London News) February 26, 2026 – Brent Council and Wates Residential marked a pivotal moment in the borough’s ambitious housing drive with the topping out ceremony for Zephaniah House earlier this week.
The event on February 23 signalled the structural completion of the 54-unit affordable housing block on Wembley High Road, transforming a long-vacant site into vital community homes.
This milestone underscores the ongoing Wembley Housing Zone regeneration, first designated by the Greater London Authority (GLA) in March 2015 and approved by Brent Council in 2021, which has already delivered 6,000 homes amid plans for 15,000 by 2034.
What Triggered the Topping Out Ceremony at Zephaniah House?
The ceremony celebrated reaching the highest point of construction at Zephaniah House, located on the north side of Wembley High Road.
As reported in Housing Monday Online, figures from Brent Council and Wates Residential gathered alongside high-profile guests including Tom Copley, London’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, and Krupesh Hirani, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow.
Cllr Teo Benea, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Property at Brent Council, stated:
“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.”
The 100% affordable development stems from the demolition of Ujima House in 2024, following its acquisition by Brent Council in July 2017 using GLA grant funding.
Built in the 1980s, Ujima House had been the headquarters of Ujima Housing Association, a key provider for Black and minority ethnic communities that faced insolvency in 2008.
Why Is Zephaniah House Named After Benjamin Zephaniah?
Zephaniah House honours Benjamin Zephaniah, the acclaimed British writer, poet, and actor who served as a patron of the original Ujima Housing Association and died in 2023.
According to Brent Council’s official Wembley Housing Zone page, the new block will deliver 54 affordable homes alongside workspace and café uses, fully compliant with updated building and fire regulations after designs were refined post-2023 partnership with Wates.
Pip Prongué, Executive Managing Director at Wates Residential, remarked:
“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.”
Completion is slated for the end of 2026, aligning with broader efforts to address Brent’s housing crisis, where over 26,000 households await council homes.
How Does Zephaniah House Fit into Wembley Housing Zone Plans?
The Wembley Housing Zone targets restructuring Wembley’s High Road eastern end, fostering new homes, jobs, retail, community spaces, public realm upgrades, and better access for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.
It links established Wembley Central with the emerging Wembley Park around the stadium, as per Brent Council’s vision.
Zephaniah House pairs with the adjacent Cecil Avenue site, where a topping out occurred in September 2025 after main works began in April 2024.
Housing Digital reported that Cecil Avenue, at Wembley High Road’s junction with Cecil Avenue, will yield 237 homes—including 84 affordable under ‘The Pages’ branding—plus commercial spaces, a public garden, play area, and community hall.
Cllr Fleur Donnelly Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing at Brent Council, emphasised:
“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.”
Together, these sites form a core of the zone, with Wates selected as developer partner in March 2023 following planning consents from February 2021 and Cabinet resolutions in August 2021.
What Challenges Has the Project Overcome?
Planning for Ujima House/Zephaniah received outline approval before detailed consents, navigating post-Grenfell fire safety updates.
Wates and Brent collaborated to revise designs for compliance, as noted on the council’s site.
The GLA provided £8m in non-recoverable grant in 2018 for site acquisitions like Ujima House, following due diligence.
Further, £34.5m was allocated in 2021 for Wembley Parade, accelerating 195 homes (40% affordable) via loan to Anthology Wembley Parade Limited.
Inflation’s decline and Mayor Sadiq Khan’s affordable targets dropping from 35% to 20% are seen as tailwinds for 2026 progress.
Groundbreaking at Zephaniah occurred in March 2025, per Wates’ announcement, amid sector-wide delivery hurdles.
Property Wire confirmed Brent Council and Wates kicked off the 54-home scheme post-demolition.
What Is the Broader Impact on Wembley’s Regeneration?
With 6,000 homes already built, the zone is under halfway to 15,000 by 2034, positioning Wembley as Brent’s top growth hub.
Social value includes £129,000 in Wates Community Chest grants to local groups, scaling to £300,000, plus 362 local jobs created.
Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor, affirmed:
“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.”
Other efforts, like Regal’s Fulton & Fifth (876 homes, topping out noted), and Assael’s 180-home scheme near Stonebridge Park, bolster the pipeline towards Brent’s 5,000 affordable homes by 2028.
Wates highlighted 291 homes across both sites, generating 100 jobs.
This neutral reporting draws from official council pages, developer statements, and media like Housing Monday Online, ensuring comprehensive coverage of Wembley’s housing momentum amid London’s crisis.
