We wanted to provide an update on our manifesto commitment of building 1000 new social homes. We are using several housing delivery models to bring forward affordable homes.
Direct Delivery
Juniper House (Skyline) is a Council direct delivery development – a Council owned site developed using a private development partner. We were delighted to visit the site to see the amazing new homes along with Councillors, Andy Dixon, Miriam Mirwitch & Cabinet member for Jobs, Skills & Equalities, Vicky Ashworth. Some of the benefits from this site include:
• 91 new homes including – 18 shared ownership, 23 social rent homes with 14 family sized units (3 & 4 bed flats).
• University of Portsmouth to occupy basement and ground floor commercial space
• New nursery.
• 22 local construction and 11 apprenticeship
• Built to net zero carbon standards, responding to the climate emergency, and saving money on fuel bills for future occupants.
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Estate Regeneration Avenue Road, Leytonstone is a council housing estate being re-built by a private development partner. For this project we received approximately £25 million Affordable Housing Grant (AHG) making it the single biggest AHG payment the council has ever received. As part of this process residents were balloted with 91.5% voting for the regeneration of this estate. The regeneration of this estate will see: • 617 homes developed – 250 for social rent and a further 367 for private and affordable homes. • High-quality new homes will range from one bed apartments to five-bed town houses for larger families to enjoy, with 10 per cent listed as accessible for wheelchair users. You can see the plans for the estate here with CGI images. |
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We need millions of Council homes to be built across the country. Due to the recent inflationary pressures home building across the country was slowing but this was compounded by the Conservative Governments mini budget. Several housing projects in our borough are currently no longer viable due to the financial turmoil following the mini budget. More recently the Government has scrapped housing targets due to pressure from Tory rebels which will lead to less homes being built across the country. Complete capitulation by the Government on one the biggest challenges facing this country. London is now building more homes than the rest of the country combined! Schemes such as Juniper House and Avenue Road are only possible due to Greater London Authority Affordable Housing Grants (AHG). The levels of grant we are receiving now is testament to the excellent relationship between the Council and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. We are demonstrating we can continue to deliver by taken an interventionist approach – doing all we can as a Labour Council to ensure much needed homes continue to be built despite the economic downturn. We have met 93% of our housing targets, well above the London average allowing rephasing of schemes to ensure developments are completed. We also utilised AHG to acquire private sale homes in new developments to ensure projects are not paused. The homes will be ‘flipped’ from private sale to social rent and will be allocated to local residents. As many of you will be aware, we launched our Affordable Housing Commission earlier this year bringing together academics, policy, and sector-based expertise to provide an independent view on what more we can do as a Council to maximise Affordable Housing in the borough. The Commission will present recommendations to the Cabinet in the summer. |