Plans to build 23 homes for Lewisham residents on the housing waiting list took a step forward on Wednesday (December 9) as a proposal to allocate funding for a contractor was approved.

Planning permission to build the 20 flats and three houses at Wellington Close on the Somerville Estate in New Cross, which are set to be let at London Affordable Rent (LAR), was granted in February 2018. 

The site, formerly a sheltered housing block, is currently vacant – plans also include a small play area and communal garden.  

The homes are dubbed “100 per cent social” – Lewisham classifies LAR as social housing. 

Social rent with new builds is on average more expensive than old developments and 10 per cent lower than LAR.  

Presenting the report on the proposals, the cabinet member for housing and planning, Cllr Paul Bell, said builds for social housing are still going ahead despite the Covid-19 pandemic.  

“All [the 23] homes will be built for residents on Lewisham’s housing waiting list with lifetime secure tenancies offered in perpetuity,” he said.  

Mayor and cabinet approved a recommendation to allocate funding from the Housing Revenue Account for Lewisham Homes to appoint a contractor to build the development.  

According to the report, the financial position of the scheme is “now firmed up” with “full works costs received from the recommended contractor following the tender process carried out by Lewisham Homes”.  

How much the scheme is expected to cost was discussed behind closed doors at the end of meeting.  

The report included a timetable of milestones, with the contract set to be awarded December 23, work on-site to begin February 8, 2021, and the homes to be ready in September 2022.