Lewisham on verge of seeing first new council homes in 30 years

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Development, Local Government

The Mayor of Lewisham has agreed to draw up proposals that could lead to the Borough seeing its first new council homes in 30 years.

The plans, which include building on under-used council land, could see 76 new homes built - the first of 250 that Mayor Sir Steve Bullock has pledged to build over the next five years.

If they get the green light, the first 76 units will include much-needed four-bedroom homes and flats.

Sir Steve said: "Building these 76 new homes is an exciting and major step towards meeting the demand for housing in the Borough and providing homes that our residents desperately need. Family sized homes are in especially short supply and this will help some of our families living in over-crowded homes to get the space that they need.

"The council will also be developing plans for how we can provide adaptable and desirable housing for our older residents; homes that will stand the test of time and be fit-for-purpose in 10, 20, 30 years’ time. I look forward to seeing plans for all these new developments in the coming weeks and months."

The building programme is part of 'Housing Matters' - the council’s plan to tackle housing challenges in the district.

As part of the programme, the council has been talking to residents about their housing priorities and has been looking at the choices it'll have to make to help meet the district’s housing needs in the future.

More than 2,000 people took part in activities run in the months before Christmas, including questionnaires, information sessions, house visits, roadshows and an online survey.