We're proud to show off our new council homes

We have completed a new zero carbon housing scheme in East Greenwich, taking the council a step closer to meeting its target of creating 1,750 council homes for people on the housing register.

The 32-home development in Tuskar Street is comprised of eight houses with private gardens, 12 duplex apartments, and 12 apartments with a shared residents’ garden. 

Three of the properties are adapted for wheelchair use, in line with the council’s commitment for 10 per cent of all its new homes to be wheelchair accessible.

Tenants in the new homes were visited by Leader of the Council Cllr Anthony Okereke.

Cllr Okereke said: “Too many people in our borough are suffering as a result of London’s housing crisis, trapped in insecure, expensive and inadequate housing, which robs them and their families of the stability everyone needs to build a happy, healthy life.

"Developments like this one at Tuskar Street show that we are doing everything we can to create the council homes that will help these people, by giving them a safe, secure and sustainable home.

Social housing is the only form of accommodation with rents that are linked to local incomes, so these beautiful council homes are the best route out of the housing misery affecting so many of our residents.”

Lisa who moved into the new development earlier this week, said: "I wanted to downsize because I had empty bedrooms, and it just felt like a waste. The process was so quick, which really impressed me. This new place is perfect, especially with the playground, it's great for when I look after my grandkids.

Greenwich does so much more than other boroughs when it comes to building new homes, it happens so quickly and I'm excited to see my bills dropping too."

An anonymous resident said: "When I got the call about this new place, I was over the moon, because I've never had a space to truly call my own, it feels this is something I have been searching for 20 years, and now I finally have that for me and my children. Before seeking support with the council, I'd never had a housing officer before, but the woman from Greenwich who supported me was incredible, she went above and beyond to help us.  

"Another borough refused to support me, even after my experience with domestic abuse, which made things even harder. I spent years in different temporary accommodations and while I was grateful to have a roof over my head, some of the conditions were terrible, but it was still better than sleeping in my car which was what I ended up having to do before the council stepped in to help me.  

"I really can't express how grateful I am."

The development at Tuskar Street meets zero carbon standards by incorporating technologies like Air Source Heat Pumps, solar panels and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery to reduce both carbon emissions and running costs for tenants.

Efficiency and sustainability were maximised during the build process through the use of offsite construction, with sections of the homes created offsite under factory controlled conditions before being craned into place.

The new properties join over 380 new council homes now completed under the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Greenwich Builds programme, which aims to create 1,750 new homes across the borough for local people on the housing register.

Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal and Development Cllr Majid Rahman said: “These fantastic homes exemplify what we are achieving with our Greenwich Builds programme: superbly designed, sustainable homes targeted to meet the urgent needs of people on our housing register.

We are committed to creating 1,750 council homes across the borough, and with hundreds either complete or underway, we are making fantastic progress towards meeting this goal.” 

Cabinet Member Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness Cllr Pat Slattery, said: “It is Our Greenwich mission to make sure that people in Royal Greenwich have access to a safe and secure home that meets their needs.

We are delivering on that commitment with hundreds of new council homes now completed, hundreds more under construction and a huge programme of repairs to our existing housing stock now underway, providing the solid foundation people need to build and enjoy their lives.”