Wandsworth Council’s planning committee has approved plans for a new 100 per cent affordable housing scheme in Roehampton that will include dozens of homes for older people with a range of care needs.
The committee has unanimously approved plans to provide 95 new affordable homes on the site of the former Pocklington Court in Alton Road.
The empty and vacant 1960s building had previously been owned by a charity that provided 64 flats in mainly studio style accommodation for blind and visually impaired residents. The charity decided to close the building and relocate its tenants to better and more modern accommodation in 2015.
Now in the ownership of a different charitable housing provider the redevelopment of the site will see 95 new homes being built. Of these 41 will offer “extra care” supported housing services while the remaining 54 flats will be available for intermediate shared ownership or rent at an affordable cost.
The new homes will be provided in three buildings and will offer high quality wheelchair accessible accommodation plus communal recreational space and landscaped gardens. Parking for both residents and care staff will be provided in a basement car park, along with secure storage space for 92 bicycles.
Planning chairman Cllr Will Sweet said: “This is a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme that will provide high quality homes for local people.
“Nearly half will offer much needed extra care accommodation to meet the needs of residents who require enhanced levels of support and assistance.
“It will also provide more than 50 homes for people on lower incomes. They will be offered for rent at London Living Rent levels and also on low cost shared ownership terms.
“All the properties will be built to a very high standard with generous floorspace, a dual aspect outlook, good communal facilities and attractive outdoor space.
“And because the site is located on the border with Richmond Park, it was important that we were able to shape the scheme to not only deliver the maximum level of affordable housing possible but also to limit the development’s impact on this historic green space.”
