Cabinet set to expand ambitious housebuilding programme to deliver over 2,600 affordable homes
Camden Council is set to scale up its housebuilding programme in response to local housing needs and confirm its place as a national leader for building new council homes.
The council’s Housing Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet will review ambitious plans next week that pledge to:
- Increase the council’s house building target to 4,850 new homes, up from 3,050
- Deliver over 2,600 affordable homes, including 1,800 new council homes, and maintain Camden’s position as one of the leading builders of new social housing
- Make an additional £1bn investment in increasing the numbers of social and affordable homes in Camden
- Continue building larger, energy-efficient homes that provide Camden families with the space they need, help to tackle rising bills and lower carbon emissions
Councillor Danny Beales, Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs, and Community Investment said the strategy is a “bolder and more ambitious” phase to Camden’s house building programme - which has so far provided larger Council homes to over 1,000 residents including 453 children, many of whom previously lived in overcrowded homes.
He said: “Now is the time for the Council to be even bolder and more ambitious. Instead of delaying new homes in the absence of national funding, we are taking action and building as many affordable homes, as quickly as is possible, which we know are urgently needed for our residents.
“We will deliver many of these housing schemes ourselves and, where there is opportunity to deliver the same numbers of affordable homes sooner, alongside other partners.”
The Council’s Cabinet will be asked to agree the new house building programme when they meet on September 7th.
At the meeting Cabinet will also be asked to agree the delivery of schemes that will build 280 social and affordable homes at Camley Steet, Central Somers Town, and at Bacton Low Rise.
170 affordable homes and 1,000 new jobs at Camley Street
The proposals going to Cabinet set out how the shared resident and stakeholder vision for Camley Street will be delivered by the council.
This will include 350 new homes, where none exist at present, 50 per cent of which will be affordable and 129 will be managed by the council through its wholly owned housing company.
In addition, 200,000 square feet of new workspaces will be created, with capacity for over 1,000 new jobs in the rapidly growing life sciences, tech, and digital industries. There will be a commitment to promote good local jobs on the site.
The proposals are a significant investment for the area; new homes will be built where they are currently none, improved walking and cycling routes will be added, and new open spaces, cafes and shops will be created.
A development partner will be used on part of the site to speed up delivery of critically needed affordable homes and bring expertise in developing highly specialised workspaces.
34 new affordable homes set to be built in Central Somers Town
The delivery of affordable housing in Camden is set to be boosted by the registration of Camden Living as a social housing provider.
34 new social rent homes will be built in Central Somers Town by Camden Council and with a Greater London Authority (GLA) grant worth a £3.4m.
The homes will be built by 2024 and offer residents new homes with capped social rents, the council as their landlord, and the same security that comes with a council tenancy.
70 affordable homes at Bacton Low Rise
The council’s Cabinet will be asked to agree a delivery plan for the second phase of Bacton Low Rise redevelopment and the building of 71 affordable homes in Gospel Oak.
46 council homes were built in 2017 at Bacton Low Rise that saw award-winning homes at Cherry Court and 2 Vicars Road showcase the council’s high standards of housing and resident-led approach towards building.
Now 247 mixed tenure homes will be built in the final phase, including 71 affordable homes.
The delivery plan being proposed to Cabinet will ensure that the scheme can get underway as quickly as possible and deliver the same benefits for local residents.