The Essex border area where 600 new homes could be built

Havering Council is working to bring around 600 homes into use to ease pressures on its housing sector. Councillor Natasha Summers, the cabinet member for housing need, outlined a series of plans at a full council meeting last night (15th January).

The town hall is working to build a 74-unit ‘welcome centre’ in Harold Hill, and is looking to repurchase 80 homes that used to be council-owned. Through a series of joint ventures, Havering will also look to buy between 150 and 400 homes on the open market, Cllr Summers said.

Temporary accommodation is one of the biggest financial strains on the council. Residents who are or at risk of becoming homeless are owed a legal duty by the council, which must house them. The most common means are bed-and-breakfast-style accommodation or hotels, both of which are costly.

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Last year, the council overspent on its budget by £6.1million. It is now facing a shortfall of £75m for the coming financial year, blaming a “systemically broken” funding system. Cllr Summers was answering a question from former cabinet member and Labour group leader Keith Darvill, who said hotels were “unsuitable” for families with young children.

She said the town hall was working to “get the numbers down”. The South Hornchurch ward councillor pointed to a controversial proposal to convert a former guitar shop in Romford into 55 self-contained units of accommodation.

The council plans to lease Chesham House for ten years, which it says will save a total of £9.7m. However, a cross-party group of councillors have raised concerns the conditions would be “substandard” after similar plans were previously refused. Separate plans to build 18 modular homes on land designated for the Waterloo Estate have been backed by councillors.

The scheme was recommended for approval by a scrutiny committee on Tuesday (14th January). It is expected to be green-lit by top councillors next Wednesday (22nd January). The cabinet also confirmed plans to spend £260m on its existing housing stock over the next five years.

Paul McGeary, the cabinet member for housing, told the chamber that Havering currently had the second lowest number of homes in Greater London that fell below the ‘decent homes’ standard. He said the council was taking a “preventative approach” and was looking to enter a series of long-term contracts for services like heating and gas.

Conservative councillor Joshua Chapman said a “lot of money was going to be spent” and said the council should maximise ‘social value’. Cllr McGeary responded that, through various joint ventures, green spaces across the borough had been renovated.