A celebration has been held to mark the final concrete pour on 122 new Greenwich Builds council homes in Kidbrooke.
The event, known as a topping out ceremony, was attended by Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Councillor Anthony Okereke; Deputy Mayor of London for Housing, Tom Copley; Greater London Authority Members; ward Councillors Sandra Bauer and Dave Sullivan and Managing Director of developer Durkan Limited, Tim Carpenter.
Guests were guided to the top floor of the structure where they took in panoramic views before the last section of cement was trowelled off by Cllr Okereke, Deputy Mayor Copley and Tim Carpenter, who each said a few words in praise of the scheme, which is creating much-needed homes for people on the Council’s housing waiting list.
Part-funded by the Mayor of London’s Homes for Londoners programme, the development at Kidbrooke Park Road is spread over four buildings and will achieve high sustainability standards through the use of ground source heat pumps, solar panels and efficient insulation.
One in 10 homes will be specifically designed for wheelchair users, in line with the Council’s commitment 10% Greenwich Builds council homes to be wheelchair adapted.
Two large landscaped communal outdoor areas and a tree-lined corridor with 69 newly planted trees will provide amenity space, and the design includes a nursery for both new tenants and existing local residents.
Kidbrooke Park Road North will be followed by a second, larger development of council homes to the south. When both are completed they will provide over 440 council homes for local people on the housing waiting list, together with more landscaping, trees and a retail unit.
Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Councillor Anthony Okereke, said: “We are extremely happy to be celebrating this milestone, which marks progress to the final stages of work on 122 council homes which are so much needed in our borough. We can’t wait to see this development completed and for it to be joined by hundreds more new council homes for local people at Kidbrooke Park Road South.
“Together these developments will create a brand new neighbourhood with first class landscaping, hundreds of new trees, a retail unit and nursery to benefit everyone living in the area. Schemes like this show how committed we are to making sure everyone in our borough has a safe, secure place to live.
“In addition to making good on our commitment to deliver 1,750 Greenwich Builds homes, we are working tirelessly with housing associations, private developers and community benefit societies to maximise the number of new homes available for local people on waiting lists.”
Tim Carpenter, Managing Director of Construction at Durkan, the contractor for the scheme, commented: “It’s been great to see this new community take shape and come to life over the last year. Milestones like this give us the opportunity to stand back and look at the progress we’ve made as a team.
“All this work means we’re well on our way to completing more much-needed new homes and a nursery for Greenwich. Our construction team — which we’re pleased to say includes several apprentices getting the opportunity to start a great career — is now full steam ahead towards completing the homes in 2024.”
Deputy Mayor of London for Housing, Tom Copley, said: “I’m extremely pleased that we’re reaching the final stages of this impressive development in Kidbrooke Park, which will provide 122 much-needed new, high-quality council houses part-funded by City Hall. The green spaces, communal areas and nursery will also improve the surrounding area and make a huge difference to its residents.
“We are delivering record-breaking levels of housing across the capital, with enormous potential for regeneration and community-building — a key part of the Mayor’s promise to build a better, fairer, more prosperous London for all.”
All the homes will be made available to local residents on housing waiting lists, which currently stand at over 26,000 households. The Greenwich Builds programme, of which the new development is part, will see over 1,750 sustainable council homes constructed across Royal Greenwich.
Hundreds more homes for local people are being delivered as part of the council’s multi-strand approach to securing and delivering new council homes, homes at genuinely affordable rent levels as well as other rented and intermediate affordable housing. This includes working with housing associations, developers and Meridian Home Start.
Header image: Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Councillor Anthony Okereke, with Deputy Mayor of London for Housing, Tom Copley and Tim Carpenter, Managing Director of construction at Durkan, and Ward Councillors Sandra Bauer and Dave Sullivan.
