A South London council’s re-jigged plans to bulldoze a homeless hostel would see the number of new council homes slashed by more than half.
Mayfields Hostel in Lee could be demolished to make way for 64 flats under new proposals revealed by Lewisham Council.
Photo by Google Street View
Only 23 of the new homes would be the cheapest council properties, despite officials previously approving separate plans for 47 council homes at the site on Burnt Ash Hill.
A development approved by Lewisham councillors in 2018 would have seen a block of 47 council flats built where the hostel currently stands, as well as shops. But the building was never constructed and its planning permission is no longer valid.
Planning documents submitted as part of the council’s new 64 flat scheme say that officials dropped proposals to make all the new homes council rent properties after realising the figures didn’t add up.
A decision was made to scrap the planned shop units as they would “detract from the overall attractiveness and viability of the site,” the documents add.
Of the 64 planned homes, 41 would be shared ownership flats, where a person buys a share of a property and pays rent to a housing association on the remaining amount.
The other 23 council homes would be available at target rent, a type of rent that is based on local property values and average earnings.
Split across three blocks up to six floors high, 31 of the new flats would be one bed, 26 would have two bedrooms and eight would be three bed.
The development forms part of the council’s Building for Lewisham programme, which aims to build new council homes in the borough.
There are over 10,000 people on the council’s housing waiting list and 2,480 families living in temporary accommodation in the borough.
Planning documents submitted to the council on July 6 read: “Owing to the costs associated with the implementation of the proposal and a recent market assessment, a residential-led scheme is proposed for 64 affordable homes.
“The applicant aims to comprehensively redevelop the site, creating affordable homes while improving amenities, security, and appearance.
“This supports the borough’s objective of constructing affordable housing and effectively developing underutilised sites and the government’s goal of increasing housing supply, including affordable housing.
“The proposed development offers significant planning benefits and aligns with the borough’s proactive approach to meet housing targets.”
A council planning committee will make a decision on the application at a later date.
