London’s Mayor visits site for new council homes in Southwark

14 February 2020

Yesterday (Thursday 13 February), Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, paid a visit to the site of 29 new council homes and a new community centre being built in Peckham.

The site, known as Lilac House, on Meeting House Lane is part of the council’s ambitious programme to build 11,000 new council homes by 2043 and 2,500 by the end of 2022.

The Mayor was joined on the visit by Deputy Mayor for Housing Tom Copley,  Harriet Harman MP, Leader of Southwark Council Cllr Peter John and Southwark’s Cabinet Member for New Homes, Great Estates and Social Regeneration.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “Delivering the genuinely affordable homes that Londoners so desperately need has been one of my top priorities over the last four years. Therefore, I’m delighted that today’s stats show we’re firmly on track to deliver our ambitious target of starting 17,000 genuinely affordable homes this year.

“Southwark has one of London’s most ambitious council home building programmes and I’m pleased to see the progress being made today at Meeting House Lane and sites across the borough.

“We can’t solve the housing crisis overnight, but this shows what we can do when Londoners work together. Now it is time for the Government to recognise what we have achieved, step up and give us the support and funds to keep building the homes London urgently needs.”

Cllr Leo Pollak added: “We’re hugely proud of our beautifully-designed development at Meeting House Lane, as well as the key improvement to the remainder of the estate – a model of what council housing and estate improvements can look like in the twenty-first century.

“These 29 new council homes will not only help local families find the secure high quality and genuinely affordable housing they need, but will see an uplift in everyone’s living environment across the Acorn estate. We’re also very grateful for the ongoing funding support from the Mayor of London, and can’t wait to launch these new council homes later this year.”

The site is the former Acorn Neighbourhood Housing Office, which was vacant since 2009 and as well as the new homes it will include much needed community space with its own private garden, as well as kitchen and toilet facilities for the residents of the Acorn Estate.

At least 50 percent of the new homes will be offered to local tenants who in housing need.

Page last updated: 14 February 2020