68 flats at the Kensington Row development have been secured as the first tranche of permanent new homes to rehouse local residents affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower.
Work is ongoing to identify the needs of those affected who have lost their homes and match them to suitable housing. The expectation is that these new properties will be offered as one of the options to permanently rehouse residents from Grenfell Tower.
The increase to local social housing is a significant step towards meeting the government’s commitment that every family from Grenfell Tower will be rehoused in the local area.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said:
The residents of Grenfell Tower have been through some of the most harrowing and traumatic experiences imaginable and it is our duty to support them.
Our priority is to get everyone who has lost their home permanently rehoused locally as soon as possible, so that they can begin to rebuild their lives.
The government will continue to do everything we can as fast as we can to support those affected by this terrible tragedy.
More than 110 housing needs assessments have been completed to date and offers will then be made to families and this process will continue until every family has been housed.
Extra construction staff have been committed by the developer St Edward and working hour restrictions will be relaxed so work can continue around the clock to fast-track completion of the development to meet the increased demand in the area following the fire at Grenfell Tower. The government has also provided additional funding to fit out the flats to ensure they are ready for people to move in to sooner.
The new permanent housing is expected to be completed by the end of July. The Department for Communities and Local Government has also already committed to finding suitable accommodation in the local area for victims who lost their homes within a maximum of 3 weeks.
Each home will be fully furnished and completed to a high specification and St Edward will provide liaison staff for each block so that residents are fully supported in settling in to their new homes. This will be in addition to the ongoing range of support being provided to those affected by the tragedy.
The homes will be a mix of 1,2 and 3 bedroom flats across 2 blocks.
They are located in the blocks of affordable housing currently nearing completion and will be made ready for the families to move in during July and August. Residents will be able to live here on a permanent basis, 1.5 miles from their former neighbourhood.
"We've got to start by finding each of them a home," said Tony Pidgley CBE, Chairman of the Berkeley Group. "Somewhere safe and supportive, close to their friends and the places they know, so they can start to rebuild their lives. We will work night and day to get these homes ready."
Alex Jeffrey, Chief Executive, M&G Real Estate, which manages the property interests of Prudential, adds: "We are shocked and deeply saddened by the Grenfell Tower fire and are obviously relieved that we can help in some small way by providing homes of high quality within the Borough to some of the families who have been affected."