“The Gateway of Farnborough …full of homeless people from East London”
Bless them. GB News have revealed Newham Council’s latest wheeze to cut down on the homelessness figures.
Savoy Place is described as a luxury apartment block, with “panoramic views, elegant furnishings, tasteful wooden flooring, fully fitted brand-new kitchens and even opulent marble-lined bathrooms”. This might mean that some of those offered accommodation “outside London” are not so unwilling to take up the offer.
This is not the first time Newham has upset councils outside of London, by appearing to dump their problems on someone else. Your views on the issue might be coloured somewhat by your political sympathies.
On the one hand, this is an amazing coup that will make a significant dent in the housing waiting list. If you happen to live in Farnborough however, the sudden arrival of “6,500 people” from Newham looks like a way for the London council to dump some of its problems on the small Hampshire town. This is particularly true as it seems that Newham hasn’t bothered to discuss with the local council what the impact of the sudden arrival of so many people might have on schools, health services, social services, local employment, asb etc.
(The number of 6,500 is the number in the report, it does seem rather high and we suspect a typo somewhere, particularly was the Savoy Estates website is only offering 62 (fabulous) apartments currently.)
However, local Farnborough politicians do not seem to be quite as keen on the idea, where a high status development, intended for working professionals, probably commuting to London (it’s right beside the station), is likely to become a centre for unemployed residents with the associated problems.
This is not least because the local council is reported as having some 2,000 people on their own waiting list. Perhaps they have a point in suggesting the need for an impact assessment. Their figure is nothing when compared to Newham’s, but they do tend to feel a bit ‘dumped on’.
Interestingly, the GB News report states that the planning application for the development was first refused, because it was not suitable for families. This was overturned on appeal.
We don’t know the financial details yet, but some things may be inferred by what is and is not said.
It seems that the developer offered to lease the site to Rushmore Borough Council, who declined on the basis that the rents were double the local market rent. Newham it seems. Has deeper pockets. (We did however find that Rushmore had recently offered those on their housing list an opportunity to obtain properties on the same development by way of a shared ownership scheme.)
The costs of the apartments can only be guessed at. The Savoy Estates website indicates Price On Application.
As we said at the beginning, your attitudes will likely be determined by your sympathies. Why should the well-heeled residents of Hampshire be allowed to escape the harsh realities of urban life? Or, why is it that highly subsidised London councils can buy up huge swathes of rural and suburban towns and suddenly alter their character?
Maybe its time for a new look at the role and purpose of state-subsidised housing.