A former hostel in Greenwich that underwent a redevelopment to accommodate vulnerable families on the borough’s housing list is reportedly being used by Luton Council instead. 

Greenwich Council gave retrospective planning permission in September 2023 for Grosvenor Hill Social Impact Group to convert the building in Ashburnham Grove, just a ten-minute walk from Greenwich Park.

Council documents showed that an agreement had been made between the developer and the authority for vulnerable individuals in the borough to be housed in the development.

However, this arrangement reportedly broke down after the charity assigned to manage the property, Noble Tree Foundation, was put under investigation by the Charity Commission regarding potential unauthorised benefits for trustees and unmanaged conflicts of interest.

The knock-on effect was that the building’s owner sought another deal to fill it, and the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that Luton Council has now agreed to house people there instead.

Ben Howlett, 37, moved to the road in 2018 when the site was still a hostel for those with learning difficulties.

He said Grosvenor Hill began to convert the building into a home for 26 adults about a year and a half ago and, after enduring the building works, he was surprised to learn it was no longer benefitting people from within the borough.

He has also raised issues with CCTV cameras which he and other residents claim overlook their homes, and described the building as resembling a public toilet in the middle of the Ashburnham Triangle Conservation Area.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “All of us have got issues in terms of overlooking which we were told wouldn’t be the case.

"I only found out that they had a CCTV camera pointing into our front rooms and bedrooms at the front of our properties by the time I arrived and had a tour of the site. I was like, ‘What is that? I can see right into our front rooms. Why have you got a camera pointing in?’

"That, I believe, hasn’t been changed either.”

Grosvenor Hill denies the cameras look into anyone’s homes.

Mr Howlett added that he’s concerned how the property will be managed and the impact that could have on residents, given the vulnerable people who will live there, but stressed he and others had no problem with it being used to house vulnerable people.

He said: “It’s a situation where vulnerable people potentially could be moving into accommodation with an organisation that is under investigation by the Charity Commission due to [alleged] financial irregularities.”

He added: “I also heard that they’ve been in touch with Luton Council and are now providing the facilities through Noble Tree for very vulnerable people, asylum seekers I believe, and [Luton Council] haven’t gone through the due diligence process either.”

A Grosvenor Hill spokesperson told the LDRS that Greenwich Council worked alongside the developer but did not have a sole referral agreement on the property.

They said any local authority can refer tenants into the development and robust measures were in place to ensure tenants were vetted.

A Greenwich Council spokesperson told the LDRS: “At one stage, we undertook early discussions to explore how we could work with Grosvenor Hill and their proposed partners Noble Tree Foundation Limited, but these conversations did not progress as the Charity Commission was investigating the charity involved in the project, and subsequent proposals were not viable for us to use this property.”

Liliana Osorio, 38, has lived on Ashburnham Grove for six years.

She said she was surprised by how much work developers had been able to carry out on the building despite it being in the conservation area.

She added that the lights around the building were often left on throughout the night and disrupt neighbours in the area.

The resident said: “The floodlights are really annoying, I think they’re using cheap stuff because it’s not controlled by motion sensors or anything, so it looks like Wembley back there.”

She added: “They say the argument is that they can’t change it because there are cameras for security, but surely cameras can film in the dark? I mean my baby monitor films in the dark, tech should be better.”

A Grosvenor Hill spokesperson told the LDRS that lights for the building had been confirmed to be fit for purpose and emit a low level of light by Greenwich Council officers following a false accusation by neighbours.

The group also said claims that CCTV cameras from the building pointed directly into locals’ homes were incorrect and unfounded.

Another resident living on the road, who wished to remain anonymous, moved to the street in 2018.

He said people living in the original hostel appeared to have been well looked after and that the property had remained empty for a long time before individuals started moving in about a month ago.

They said: “I think in general I didn’t get a lot of confidence. People would say that it’s to help people and stuff but they haven’t cleaned anything. They’ve raked up a bit of the leaves now, but there’s no care being put in the building whatsoever.”

They added: “What’s happening now, I don’t have a problem with that. I would rather have it being used than just stand empty of course. To me, if it’s kept tidy and not a nuisance I don’t mind.”

A Grosvenor Hill spokesperson told the LDRS that several meetings had been held with neighbours and the local residents association on the project.

They said rooms in the building were designed with respect to London standards and each included its own kitchen and en-suite bathroom. They said the building had been completed to a high standard and included communal areas, laundry facilities, security and fire systems as well as a large garden and patio area.

They said: “[This scheme] serves as a strategic solution to address the pressing need for supported accommodation.

"The rents are set at sustainable levels, in accordance with the local housing allowance, which is notably below market rates across the UK. The property has been granted planning permission precisely because the council acknowledges its role in mitigating the challenges faced by vulnerable populations.”

A Greenwich Council spokesperson said the authority did not own and was not responsible for the building on Ashburnham Grove and it was privately owned by Grosvenor Hill Social Impact Group.

They said the tenants and commercial terms of the property are matters for the owner and the authority’s role was to ensure the running of the project was in line with the planning permission that was permitted at the public meeting in September 2023.

They added: “If there is evidence of a breach of the planning permission, the council will take appropriate enforcement action. We have investigated several complaints including redirecting CCTV cameras and security lighting; Grosvenor Hill Social Impact Group have promised to resolve the issues that have been raised.

"We are working closely with residents as part of the Ashburnham Grove Reference Group which has been convened by local councillors, meeting with them regularly and providing frequent and detailed information and listening and acting on concerns when raised.”

Noble Tree Foundation was approached for comment, but had not responded at the time of publication.

Luton Council declined to comment.