GLA Chief opens new homes for key workers

An attractive development of 24 new flats in Edmonton for affordable rent by key workers was opened by Anthony Mayer, Chief Executive of the Greater London Authority at a ceremony on Friday 6 June 2008.

Photo shows from left, Darren Welsh from Enfield Council, Howard Lavers (MD of Crestel Partnerships), Neil Hadden (Aldwyck CE),and Anthony Mayer (CE of Greater London Authority)

The one bedroom flats at 1 Grove Street provide accommodation at below market rent to key workers employed in the London Borough of Enfield, as well as the boroughs of Camden, Islington, Haringey, Barnet and Westminster. First priority is given to key workers working in Enfield. The flats are situated close to the North Middlesex Hospital.

Photo shows, from left - Cllr Kate Anolue, Darren Welsh and Cllr Christina During outside 1 Grove Street.

The project is a partnership between Aldwyck Housing Group - a leading provider of affordable homes to rent or buy across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire - and Crestel Partnerships. The Housing Corporation provided around £1.14m funding for the scheme. The scheme is Aldwyck’s first in North London, with another in progress in Zambezi Drive, Edmonton.

Neil Hadden, Chief Executive of Aldwyck Housing Group, says: “We’re delighted to have been able to extend our operation to North London by providing much-needed affordable rented accommodation for key workers. We believe there’ll be a continuing demand for this type of accommodation, which provides another option alongside shared ownership for employees in our key public services.

“Around 10 per cent of Aldwyck’s existing housing stock is located in nearby Broxbourne, which means we are easily able to extend our housing management expertise to North London. We look forward to working on further projects within the Borough of Enfield.

Cllr Matthew Laban, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety for Enfield Council said “An overwhelming majority of nurses, teachers and other key workers are finding more and more that they cannot afford to rent accommodation in the communities they serve.

“This scheme is to be welcomed, as it provides much needed homes for people whose skills we so desperately need.”

Howard Lavers, Managing Director of Crestel Partnerships, explains that the new scheme has regenerated the former site of a pub, the Grove Tavern, with accommodation that not only meets the requirements of key workers but is also designed to have minimum impact on the flow of traffic in the area.

He said, “A high quality and secure cycling storage facility and no on-site parking provision is aimed at encouraging the use of public transport and cycles by local key workers.

“We’re pleased to have had the opportunity to work in partnership with Aldwyck on this their first project with the London Borough of Enfield.”

The rent of the flats at 1 Grove Street fall within the maximum target figure of the affordable rent threshold for a one bedroom flat, as set out in the London Borough of Enfield’s key worker strategy. This is currently out for consultation and aims to maintain the affordability of intermediate housing by setting below market prices and rent thresholds.

This document was last updated on 2008-06-12 16:21:02 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_132899