Wandsworth Council is leading the way in delivering more affordable housing, using a place-based approach by building good quality council homes and developing community facilities.
The Council’s Planning Committee recently approved proposals at the former Atheldene Centre on Garratt Lane that will drastically increase the affordable housing offer on-site from 45 per cent to over 82 per cent, most of which will be homes for Council rent.
Cllr Aydin Dikerdem, cabinet member for housing, said:
“The recent decision to further increase the overall number of social rent homes at this site is fantastic and shows that our ambitious targets can be met.
We are leading by example with this site to show that it is achievable for businesses to deliver much-needed new homes, along with community improvements, and still have a viable scheme.”
The scheme is about more than bricks and mortar—it is also about serving the community. It will deliver a new health centre for the NHS, new shops, and much-needed new homes.
Phase one of the development, led by developer Higgins, is due to be completed in the coming months. All homes delivered in phase two will be for social rent as part of the council’s Homes for Wandsworth programme.
Cllr Dikerdem added:
“Every new council home built will go towards helping families in our communities who need it most, providing good quality housing that they can call their own. This is why we are collaborating with developers to maximise the delivery of genuinely affordable housing for our residents, particularly council rent homes.”
Wandsworth will consult later in the year on changes to our Local Plan—a legal document that sets out their long-term planning—to require developers to deliver 50 per cent affordable homes.
The Plan would favour social rent homes to help more local families remain in the communities they have laid roots in.
These proposed new policies will apply to all property developments in the borough, not just large developments, to ensure property developers contribute towards Wandsworth’s vision of a fairer borough for all.
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