Labour-led Islington Council has had a strong start to 2018 by launching 49 new genuinely affordable homes, including 39 new council homes, in January.
The new council homes have been delivered as part of Islington Labour’s commitment to building more genuinely affordable homes. This month, 23 new council homes opened alongside the brand new Brickworks community centre in Tollington ward. 26 new genuinely affordable homes, including 16 council homes, also launched on Dalmeny Avenue in St George’s ward.
The new council homes form part of Islington Labour’s commitment to build 2,000 new genuinely affordable homes, including 500 new council homes, by the end of the 2019/20 council year.
Cllr Diarmaid Ward, Executive Member for Housing and Development, says: “Everyone deserves to live somewhere that is safe, decent and secure, which is why Islington Labour is firmly committed to delivering more genuinely affordable homes for local people.
“We were elected to tackle the housing crisis and we are determined to do exactly that. I am pleased that, by working with the community, we have delivered 49 new genuinely affordable homes this month. Not only that, but we have also launched some exciting new community facilities, which all local people will be able to enjoy.
“Our work is not over yet. We will continue to deliver more genuinely affordable homes, including council homes, and prioritise them for the local people who need them. That is why this year’s Council budget for 2018-19 includes a £57 million investment in new council homes, making this the biggest council house-building programme in a generation.”
By working with local people, Islington Council has not only delivered new genuinely affordable homes but also new facilities for the local community. The new accessible Brickworks community centre will host children’s play spaces, therapy rooms, offices for community organisations, a music room and more for Tollington ward residents. It also has a special ‘Changing places’ toilet, which provides additional facilities for people with profound and multiple disabilities, so all local people can enjoy the new community centre.
The 26 new genuinely affordable homes in St George’s ward, of which 16 are council homes, marked the completion of work on the new Cat and Mouse Library, which is located beneath the new housing. The new library opened last month and includes new computers, study space and new books for adults, children and teenagers. All of the new homes are connected to cost-saving, efficient communal heating.
To ensure that local people benefit from the building of new council homes, the Council’s local lettings policy ensures all new homes will be prioritised to local people.
Pictured –
1) Cllr Richard Watts, Leader of Islington Council, and Cllr Diarmaid Ward, Executive Member for Housing and Development, at the launch of new genuinely affordable homes on Dalmeny Avenue, St George’s ward
2) Labour Tollington ward councillors, Cllr Richard Watts and Cllr Flora Williamson, with Jeremy Corbyn MP at the Brickworks community centre, Tollington ward