Issue - meetings

This provides Cabinet with an overview of progress made against delivery of the Council’s affordable housing delivery targets along with specific decisions required in relation to schemes being delivered directly by the Council.

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)       Note the update on the schemes currently on site and expected delivery dates.

(2)       Acknowledge the current viability challenges on the council’s plans for self-delivering of new-build social rent schemes and that officers were exploring alternative approaches for addressing Brent’s housing needs.

(3)       Delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Neighbourhoods and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property to enter into a Deed of Variation for the GLA Affordable Housing Programme 21-26 including any delegated authority that may be required for future variations to enable further affordable homes to be provided.

(4)       Agree to proceed with the onsite delivery of the Edgware Road scheme to deliver 120 new-build homes for use as temporary accommodation with ground floor commercial space.

(5)       Delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property to agree the necessary pre-tender considerations, use of the commercial space including consideration of tax status and subsequent contract awards.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 4 August 25

Councillor Benea (Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Neighbourhood & Regeneration providing an overview of progress made against the delivery of the Council’s affordable housing delivery targets.

In introducing the report, Cabinet was reminded of the Council’s continued commitment to delivering 5,000 genuinely affordable homes in Brent by 2028, including 1,700 directly delivered by the Council recognising the impact the provision of safe, secure and affordable housing had in supporting residents across the borough.  In terms of progress, members were advised that despite unprecedented financial pressures, it had still been possible to deliver (over the past five years) 4,052 affordable homes across the borough of which 758 were council-led, with over a further 1,000 already on site and set to be completed by March 2028, meaning the Council remained on track to exceed both its borough-wide and council delivery targets.

In commending the progress achieved, this was also felt to reflect the dedicated planning and investment involved in projects such as the South Kilburn transformation (where it was pointed out 2,400 new homes, community and health facilities, and a school were being delivered) alongside plans such as those being developed to unlock the Edgware Road scheme, which would provide 120 homes for temporary accommodation alongside new commercial space.

Whilst proud of the progress being made, members also recognised the significant challenges that remained with particular reference to ongoing pressure in relation to viability and officers therefore exploring new approaches to unlock sites on which progress had been delayed, whilst also awaiting further details on the Government’s recently announced £39bn affordable housing package on which the Council would continue to lobby to ensure Brent secured a fair share of the available funding in order to address the increasing levels of demand.

In considering the report, members commended the progress being made in seeking to increase the supply of affordable housing across the borough despite the significant economic, market and financial challenges identified with all those involved across the Council thanked for their efforts given the positive impact created as a result.

Having noted the exempt information contained in the appendix to the report and breakdown of schemes being delivered directly by the Council (as set out in section 3.2.3 and Table 2 of the report), Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)       Note the update on the schemes currently on site and expected delivery dates.

(2)       Acknowledge the current viability challenges on the council’s plans for self-delivering of new-build social rent schemes and that officers were exploring alternative approaches for addressing Brent’s housing needs.

(3)       Delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Neighbourhoods and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property to enter into a Deed of Variation for the GLA Affordable Housing Programme 21-26 including any delegated authority that may be required for future variations to enable further affordable homes to be provided.

(4)       Agree to proceed with the onsite delivery of the Edgware Road scheme to deliver 120 new-build homes for use as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14