Kensington & Chelsea council is reviewing the cost of several schemes and has cancelled one altogether
A West London council has confirmed it is delaying building almost 200 new homes as it reviews the “financial viability” of its plans.
Kensington & Chelsea council has “paused” four projects and cancelled another scheme in its New Homes Programme.
The projects under review are Latymer Church, Edenham Way, Walmer Road and Lancaster Road.
An eight-home project at St Helens Gardens has been cancelled following complications with ground works, boundary walls and a protected tree.
Almost half of the 146 to 186 homes expected to have been delivered across the four paused sites would have been for social rent.
The council’s housing plans have been hit by “rapid inflation” and “increasing construction costs”.
It is seeking “further option appraisals and viable solutions to deliver the projects” amid concerns over “financial viability,” a report on its New Homes Programme revealed.
Six years ago the council made a commitment to deliver 600 new homes under its New Homes Programme, with 300 of those to be for social rent.
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Sof McVeigh, Kenginston and Chelsea’s lead member for housing, said: “Despite the challenging climate in which we are working, we are still committed to delivering safe and secure homes as part of our New Homes Programme, and that at least half of them will be for social rent.
“We are always looking at the best way to deliver new homes for our residents especially in the current climate where, like other councils, we have been faced with rapid inflation and increasing costs across the construction industry.
“This has meant some sites have been paused while we work out the most efficient means of delivering new homes and facilities for our communities.”
Kensington and Chelsea is working with its development partner Mount Anvil on its Lots Road scheme. The Silchester Arches and Barlby Road projects are due to complete in late 2024 and 2025.
The Hewer Street development opened late last year and projects in Acklam and Kelso Cochrane House developments are due to complete in spring/summer.
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