Enfield Council is progressing positively with its continued work to seek funding for its new build council homes programme, in the latest Greater London Authority (GLA) funding round and is delivering investment in existing council owned homes.
Updates and successes on the key achievements made by the Council and forward plans for this year, were heard at a Cabinet meeting that was held on Wednesday 3 February.
During the pandemic the Council has successfully delivered essential front line services during lockdown periods to residents including enhanced sanitising and deep cleaning services to communal areas in blocks, maintaining an urgent repairs service and providing additional support and protection to its most vulnerable residents who are living in sheltered accommodation from the adverse impact of coronavirus.
A series of improvement and investment works for existing Council homes and places across the borough for 2021/22 amounting to £80m was outlined.
The areas of investment include the replacement of kitchens and bathrooms, the replacement of roofs, windows and doors that are at the end of their life and energy efficiency improvements across several council owned homes. This investment will be important to supporting the economic recovery including the creation of jobs and apprenticeships.
On new council house building, the programme under construction will deliver 239 new homes of which nearly 90% will be two-to-four-bedroom family homes for people in housing need.
Where the Council builds one bed homes, it will be looking to prioritise these to people who are downsizing which will free up further family homes for those who need housing the most.
Cllr Nesil Caliskan, Leader of Enfield Council, said: “The Council is committed to investing in its existing homes as well as building much needed new council homes. We will continue to explore every avenue available to us to seek the required funding to build new council homes for residents who are in the greatest of need.”