Greenwich Council insists selling public land would reduce the “chronic shortage” of affordable homes, following a petition backed by more than 100 people.

A petition started by recently established Greenwich Housing Forum, a group “campaigning for the building of social housing”, urges the authority to cancel its controversial plan to sell three estate parking sites to private developer Pocket Living.

Last month the council’s cabinet agreed in principle to sell to the developer, which specialises in one-bedroom flats for first-time buyers, subject to a consultation.

Pocket

Pocket wants to build 151 one-bedroom flats across a three-storey development in Kidbrooke Park Close, a four-storey 45-home block at The Heights in Charlton and a six-storey development in Quince Road.

Residents have complained about not being consulted before the decision was made, while some councillors have called for details of the deal to be made public.

Neighbours living on the estate expressed fears of over-developmental on sites they claim are already cramped, and called for greater consultation to take place before any sale is made.

A recent special scrutiny meeting agreed the plan should be sent back to the council’s cabinet to be revised in light of the concerns.

Campaign 

Izzy Hickmet, one of the organisers of Greenwich Housing Forum’s petition, said: “GHF has been formed in order to act as a voice for residents in the borough seeking to improve housing provision in Greenwich.

“Although there are several residents’ groups in the borough, many members of these groups felt the need to create a forum where ideas, experiences and skills could be shared and campaigns strengthened by supporting each other. 

“Residents are particularly concerned with the low number of family-sized social rental homes built in recent years.”

News Shopper:

Kidbrooke Park Close 

Mr Hickmet said the council should invest in building social housing rather than purchasing property on the open market.

He added: “We believe public land should not be sold to private developers, but used to build reasonably sized social homes.”

The council has previously insisted these sales would make best use of the land, adding that it and its development company Meridian Home Start are not best suited to build there.

If the proposals were adopted, 80 per cent of the money raised by the sales would be spent developing council housing, and 20 per cent on local improvements.

Chronic shortage 

The proposals will be heard again at cabinet next Tuesday, August 28, where it has been recommended that the Housing Scrutiny Panel has a say in how the consultation is carried out.

News Shopper:

Cllr Chris Kirby 

Cllr Chris Kirby, cabinet member for housing, said in response to the petition: “The proposals for the Pocket Living scheme are part of the council’s vision to find innovative ways to address the chronic shortage of affordable homes in the borough.

“We would like to emphasise that a robust consultation will be taking place with residents to ensure all their views and concerns on the proposals will be addressed.

“If the proposals go ahead the sale of these three plots of land will provide the funds for us to build desperately needed new council homes.

“Despite the restraints imposed on us by the Government, including the limit on the amount we can borrow to build council homes and the lack of concrete investment plans for affordable housing across the country, we are determined to start building them again in the Royal Borough.

“Pocket Living intend to build homes for sale with significant discounts which would only be available to residents providing a rare opportunity for our young people to get a foot on the housing ladder. Rules will be put in place to ensure the homes remain affordable for future years.”

GHF is holding a public meeting about the proposals at Charlton House on Monday, September 3 at 7.30pm.