Release date: 16/03/2010
By: Eyvind Ryans
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020 8871 6031
or email eryans@wandsworth.gov.uk
More hidden homes planned
The council has approved plans to create five new homes from a disused clinic on the Ashburton Estate, West Putney.
The former William Harvey Clinic on Cortis Road has been empty since NHS Wandsworth relocated the service to the Queen Mary Hospital last year.
Now the council plans to convert the space into two and three bedroom apartments which would be available for social rent.
The project would be funded through Wandsworth's innovative hidden homes programme which turns empty or underused spaces on council estates into good quality housing for local people.
Since the scheme started 170 new homes have been completed. Another 11 are currently under construction and plans for a further 50 are being developed.
Executive member for housing Cllr Martin D Johnson said:
"Over the last seven years this scheme has helped us to make the best possible use of our housing estates.
"Once an underused space is identified we have the in-house expertise to develop a package of works to transform it into high quality accommodation. Because we already own these spaces, there are no land or property purchase costs involved, making the new homes extremely cost effective for the taxpayer.
"In many cases our projects have also helped to eliminate local problems by recycling derelict spaces which can attract trouble and anti-social behaviour.
"It's a common sense, sustainable and cost-effective initiative which is helping us to meet the borough's growing housing needs."
Wandsworth officials estimate that as many as 10,000 hidden homes could be waiting to be discovered on estates across London.
At least two other boroughs have already recognised the potential of the scheme and adopted their own programmes.
To find out more about the council's hidden homes initiative visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/hiddenhomes
Ends
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