Council set to build 25 new homes
Monday January 16, 2012
Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council has signalled its return to house building by revealing exciting proposals to transform a derelict former health clinic in Shepherds Bush into two brand new one bedroom flats.
The clinic, at Becklow Gardens, has been unused since 2006 and is one of seven sites across the borough where the council intends to construct a total of 25 new affordable properties.
The council announced last year that it would be establishing its own local housing company in order to directly provide new affordable homes for the first time in 30 years to help local residents get onto the property ladder and help create a Borough of Opportunity.
H&F has the fourth highest house prices in the UK, and the proposals, which are still subject to resident consultation and planning approval will give local people on low to middle incomes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get on the property ladder and own their own home at a discounted market rate.
Cllr Andrew Johnson, cabinet member for housing, said: “Hammersmith & Fulham is an extremely polarised borough for housing, with some of the most expensive house prices in Britain, yet one of the highest proportions of social housing in London. We are committed to addressing this by seeking to help more of our residents onto the property ladder through the promotion of low cost home ownership for those on low to middle incomes.
“For too long hardworking families who aspire to home ownership have been priced out of buying a home in Hammersmith & Fulham. The creation of the local housing company, and bringing these seven sites for development, is part of our commitment to creating a low cost home ownership Borough of Opportunity.”
The seven areas that have been identified are primarily undercrofts, bin stores, pramsheds and garages that can be converted, subject to consultation and planning, to create new affordable homes. The council is committed to ensure that any facilities used will be reprovided elsewhere onsite.
In addition to Becklow Gardens, the six sites where some facilities could be better utilised to provide new affordable housing, subject to approval at H&F Council Cabinet meeting on January 30 are:
- Verulam House, Shepherds Bush
- William Church Estate, Shepherds Bush
- Sulgrave Gardens, Hammersmith
- Jepson House, Fulham
- Lytton Estate, Barons Court
- Lakeside Road, Shepherds Bush
Cllr Johnson added: “This really is a win-win situation for residents. People who already live on these estates are going to see derelict sites, that have in some cases attracted antisocial behaviour, rejuvenated and brought back into use. For residents who may have thought they would never be able to own a stake in their own home, this scheme could be the trigger that finally gets them onto the housing ladder.
“Rather than be reliant upon developers and housing associations bringing forward sites for new affordable homes, we have taken the decision ourselves to use our land assets to improve the opportunity for home ownership in the borough.”
Through the local housing development company structure the council will be able to maximise its financial return, retain the benefit of any affordable housing that is developed and maintain greater control over the design of the new housing schemes.
The council will be writing to all residents on the estates that have been selected, giving them information about the scheme and the benefits development might bring. Consultation events are being planned for February to discuss with residents the potential ideas and seek feedback before plans are finalised.
The housing company will initially be funded by money the council has saved from selling off void properties that are too expensive to repair but in the longer term is intended to become self-financing. Any profit made in the early years could be used to pay for estate improvements, such as better open spaces and play areas, as well as more new homes.
The building work is expected to last two years. Becklow Gardens will be the first scheme and is expected to be completed by April 2012.
Westminster, Islington and Wandsworth Councils are also pursuing similar approaches to better utilising council assets in order to build new affordable housing.
H&F Home Buy will undertake the process of identifying suitable applicants from the Home Buy register. To register with Home Buy call 020 8753 6464 or email h&fHome-buy@lbhf.gov.uk.
