Westminster Council has sold the freehold of the former North Westminster Community School in North Wharf Road in Paddington to a consortium called Tavistock, Meritas & Zog. Only 20% of the 434 new homes will be social rented.
This decision comes a week after the Council published a new Housing Allocation Policy which reduces the ability of the 3,500 people with priority need on the Housing Register to find a new home in the City (1,000 of whom live in overcrowded accommodation and 1,700 in temporary accommodation). The Council cites the unavailability of sufficient low cost housing as a reason for their new policy. In launching their Affordable Rent policy the Council reiterates the need to develop new low cost housing.
The proposal includes a total of 434 residential units, comprising 289 private and 145 affordable units. The 145 affordable units are comprised of units for 91 social rent and 54 intermediate units. Only 20% of the new flats will be social rented.
Read the full article in Labour Matters http://www.labourmatters.com/westminster-labour/westminster-council-sells-off-school-site-for-more-luxury-housing/