Work will start on building 187 new social and affordable homes in central Brixton as part of an ongoing redevelopment project that has already seen the community theatre Brixton House created.
Once completed the scheme, which is located on underused Council-owned land along Somerleyton Road, will feature 378 new homes in total, including 56 per cent social and affordable homes, a community gym, extra care homes, new community and commercial spaces and big improvements to public areas along the street.
Councillor Claire Holland, the leader of Lambeth Council, joined representatives from the Council’s development partner, Higgins Partnerships, for an official start on site ceremony in Somerleyton Road on Monday, March 16, alongside community representatives.
Councillor Holland, said: “We are doing all we can to build new homes in Lambeth, with affordable and mixed tenure, to meet local needs. Lambeth and much of London face a desperate housing crisis with a shortage of homes, denying families the security and stability they deserve.
“This project demonstrates how we are doing all we can to address the crisis, be that building on council-owned land, working with partners or granting planning permission for thousands of new homes across the borough through our planning system.
“I’m delighted this latest phase of the Somerleyton project has now started and will bring fresh life to these currently largely empty sites, as well as a series of community benefits, including extra care homes and a new centre for Brixton Street Gym in recognition of their huge contribution to the area.”
The council is working with experienced development partner Higgins for the Somerleyton Road scheme to speed up the building of the new homes and ensure they are available to residents as soon as possible.
Councillor Danny Adilypour, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, Investment and New Homes at Lambeth Council, added: “Through this development, we will provide hundreds of high-quality new homes, more than half of which will be either affordable or for social rent, new community spaces and improved public areas that will benefit the local community for generations to come.
“Every new home in Lambeth is a life transformed, and projects like Somerleyton Road are a vital part of how we are tackling that challenge, delivering genuinely affordable homes, supporting local jobs and investment, and building stronger communities across the borough.”
Alongside the new homes and community spaces, the project will deliver significant benefits for the local community, including more than £600,000 in investment for local jobs and skills training, transport improvements, greener streets, new trees, accessible parking and upgrades to nearby parks and play spaces.
Declan Higgins, Chief Executive Officer at Higgins Group said, “We’re pleased to be starting work on site at Somerleyton Road and to reach this important milestone with our partners at Lambeth Council. Together we’re delivering much-needed new homes and community spaces that will support a vibrant and inclusive neighbourhood in the heart of Brixton.”
