London boroughs get social housing allocations for Olympic site

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government

The organisation managing affordable homes on the Olympic site in London - once the 2012 Games have finished - has announced the borough allocations for nearly 700 new social rented homes.

Triathlon Homes - the joint venture between developer First Base, and housing associations East Thames Group and Southern Housing Group - will own 1,379 affordable homes at East Village when the Games have finished.

These sit alongside a further 1,439 private homes owned by QDD Ltd (a joint venture between Qatari Diar Real Estate Development Company and Delancey).

Triathlon has announced its lettings strategy for its stock setting out the vision for ensuring a "mixed and sustainable community" which will, it says, help to alleviate housing need and will encourage moves across London to free up family-sized homes.  

The strategy says that half of the social rented homes (348) will go to Newham Council - the largest amount ever delivered to the borough from one development, with a substantial number of three and four-bed homes. 

The London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest are also benefitting from access to more than 100 new social rented homes.

Triathlon Homes will allocate approximately 150 homes itself, and the Greater London Authority will use its allocation of nearly 70 homes to facilitate moves throughout London for social housing tenants.

Triathlon has stressed the figures are forecast allocations.

The lettings strategy will be aligned with Newham’s plans to "open up" social rented housing to those in employment, increasing access to high quality affordable housing for those on lower incomes.

People will know by the end of the year whether they have been successful in getting a home

Triathlon says that for prospective residents who are not employed, the early allocation will facilitate routes to work, by way of skills audits, training and work access programmes, ensuring at least 50% of new tenants will be employed at first let.

Through its allocation, Newham will also identify eligible members of the armed forces that can apply for housing in East Village.

The further 704 homes owned by Triathlon will be available as a mix of intermediate market rented and shared equity homes, to provide a range of options to help Londoners get onto the property ladder.

The strategy has been agreed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales and Triathlon.