New homes for 38 families were unveiled yesterday as the Hidden Homes initiative celebrates its tenth anniversary.
New affordable homes for 38 families were unveiled on Battersea’s Rollo estate yesterday as the Hidden Homes initiative celebrates its tenth anniversary.
The scheme was launched in November 2002 to bring redundant spaces on housing estates back into use that are either eyesores or could become havens for anti-social behaviour.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles revealed the new homes which bring the total number built by the council to 238 over the past decade.
“I am delighted that the secretary of state will today unveil its biggest single scheme, and that as a result, three dozen families in housing need will be able to move into brand new high quality homes,” Wandsworth’s cabinet member for housing, Councillor Paul Ellis, said yesterday.
“As well as proving incredibly cost effective, it has also helped create jobs in the construction sector and been the key to regenerating redundant land on housing estates.”
The homes include a mix of two, three and four-bedroom family units and were jointly funded by the council and the Homes and Communities Agency, as part of a £7.5m investment program.
Affordable housing in Wandsworth is increasing steadily as a result of major private sector investment in house-building.
Last year, there was an increase of 103% in the number of homes completed by builders.
“The Government is committed to delivering more affordable homes that families need,” said Mr Pickles.
“But we also want more councils to do more and adopt innovative solutions like those being pioneered in Wandsworth.”
Over the next three years there could be as many as 3,118 new affordable units built in Wandsworth.
The council hopes that by the end of the current financial year work will have begun on 455 of these homes and 349 will be ready for people to move into.
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