Homes for Lambeth, Lambeth Council’s new wholly-owned housing company, has 70 new affordable homes ready for occupation. Work is also set to start on another 159 new homes across the south London borough in the coming 12 months, according to the company’s business plan for the next financial year which was published this week.
Richard Reynolds, the Chairman of Homes for Lambeth, said in the report:
“This is an exciting time for Homes for Lambeth. In 2018 we took some important steps, including appointing both our Board and Executive Team.
“This gives us a team with housing planning, construction assets, housing management and financial experience. 2019 will see us welcoming our first tenants into their new homes at Lollard Street as well as achieving start on-site on schemes including South Lambeth and Knights Walk.
“We will also move forward in partnership with Lambeth Council and residents on Central Hill, Cressingham Gardens and the Fenwick Estate on plans to rebuild these estates. I’m looking forward to working with Lambeth Council and the Homes for Lambeth team to build the more and better homes that Lambeth desperately needs.”
The development in Lollard Street, Kennington, includes 70 new homes at council-level rent, plus a further 19 homes for sale, a new nursery and children’s centre, and communal gardens.
The council-level rent homes will be managed by Homes for Lambeth, while proceeds from the sale of the 19 additional homes will help pay for more council-level rent homes in Lambeth. The project was carried out in partnership with the Canary Wharf Group and the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.
In 2019, Homes for Lambeth will progress four estate rebuilding projects. Work has already started at the Fenwick and Westbury estates. The Fenwick Estate in Clapham will see 46 new council-level rent homes built in this phase, and 64 council-level rent homes at Westbury. Work is also underway at Hillside Gardens in Streatham, where four homes will be built.
Work will also soon start at Knights Walk in Kennington and at the South Lambeth Estate. At Knights Walk, 16 new homes at council-level rent will be built in Phase One. Phase Two will add 68 new homes, of which 23 will be affordable homes and 45 homes for the market. At South Lambeth, 30 new council-level rent homes will be built as part of Phase One.
These schemes will see the council’s Key Guarantees applied to mean every current secure council tenant living on these estates will be able to move into a brand-new home at council-level rent. There are also affordable options for resident leaseholders to help them to stay on the estate.
Cllr Matthew Bennett, Lambeth Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Investment and New Homes, said:
“London’s housing crisis means too many people face homelessness and substandard living conditions. In Lambeth we are determined to do all we can to tackle this issue, which is a key driver of inequality in this borough, and Homes for Lambeth has a central role in that ambition.
“It is the vehicle for us to make better use of council land, infill on estates and rebuilding some estates to build a new generation of the highest quality social housing for local families, affordable homes and homes for private renters with long-term tenancies.
“This work is of crucial importance if we are to tackle our long housing waiting list and improve the lives of the borough’s 2,100 homeless households in temporary accommodation, by getting them into a real home.”
For more information please contact pauls@homesforlambeth.co.uk / 07956 530 839