Affordable Homes
Neil Thind
Experienced Chartered Building Surveyor and party Wall Specialist in London, working with property management companies, Block Management Companies, Housing Associations, Private Landlords, Loss Assessors and Solicitors.
The revised London Plan has now been approved by the Mayor and sent to the Secretary of State. This covers a wide range of topics but affordable housing should be one area of interest.
https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/london-plan/new-london-plan/publication-london-plan
In 2021, a local developer in Harrow is building residential three and four bedroom homes on an ex- Council owned car park in Pinner, Middlesex. Yet nowhere does it mention on the main advertising board to the site entrance if affordable homes are part of the development. There may be trade-offs in agreeing affordable homes on residential sites. Some Councils appear content with having no affordable homes mix on an upmarket site, and to put those elsewhere in the borough.
Maybe the answer is to build more beach huts, like the one’s at Mudeford, Dorset. Some of those tiny huts can go for up to ￡330,000 due to demand. Yes, that’s 12’ x 10’ on plan, or ￡2,750 per square foot ! (July 2020 report). Not quite so affordable, then?!
Picture - Ronald Koorm