Housebuilder forced to raise affordable housing quota after GLA response

Housebuilder Redrow has increased the number of affordable homes proposed in its redevelopment of the Alton Estate in Roehampton, south-west London, by 30% following criticism by the Greater London Authority.

Tate Hindle-designed residential blocks that form part of the practice's Alton Estate proposals

Tate Hindle-designed residential blocks that form part of the practice’s Alton Estate proposals

In a statement, the scheme’s planning authority, Wandsworth, said Redrow had worked up a revised proposal for the 1,100-home scheme, which would deliver more affordable homes more quickly.

The existing council estate currently comprises 288 homes, of which 158 are social rented. Redrow had proposed re-providing the existing social rented housing and up to 30 additional social rent units, plus 23 shared-ownership homes.

However, the GLA said the scheme did not meet London Plan stipulations as the affordable housing was segregated into single blocks, the quota of affordable housing was only 8% on the uplift in homes, and the shared-ownership homes were not guaranteed.

Wandsworth’s statement said the revised scheme would bring forward development of much of the affordable housing to 2022, and retain more existing trees. However, the statement did not say exactly how many affordable homes will now be included, and the planning documents themselves have not yet been published.

Council leader Ravi Govindia said the revised project was a “hugely ambitious regeneration scheme” that will deliver “more than just new homes”.

“It will offer our residents vastly improved living conditions while the overall scheme demonstrates our commitment to ensuring family housing is closely aligned with play space and other really important neighbourhood amenities.” 

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