Ten new council homes for social rent have been completed at Churchill Gardens in Pimlico, finishing a 44-home development that is entirely affordable housing.
The new homes at Balmoral House comprise eight four-bedroom homes, one three-bedroom home and one one-bedroom home. They are designed for local families, and will provide homes for households on the council’s rehousing waiting list, helping them stay close to their existing community.
Balmoral House was built by Wates Residential for Westminster City Council. It is the final phase of the scheme, following Darwin House, which provides 34 community supportive homes for older residents, along with a communal facility for social activities and guest rooms for visitors. Together, the two phases provide 44 affordable homes.
The development also includes new landscaped green space for residents, and improved pedestrian access between Churchill Gardens, the Embankment and the River Thames. The council, Wates Residential and project partners marked the completion with a ribbon-cutting event to officially open Balmoral House.
Balmoral House is named after the former Balmoral Castle public house. The council has said overcrowded families from the Churchill Gardens estate will be prioritised for the new homes.
The original plans for the site would not have delivered affordable homes for local families, the council said, and the scheme was revised under its Truly Affordable Housing Strategy so the homes are delivered at 100 per cent social rent. The development is part of the council’s housebuilding programme, which aims to build 2,000 new homes by 2030, including 1,100 affordable properties for residents on social housing waiting lists.
Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, said: “The completion of Balmoral House means more families will be able to live in good-quality, affordable homes that meet their needs, while remaining part of the community they know and love. These new homes will make a real difference to local families and are a welcome addition to Churchill Gardens.”
“Together with Darwin House, we have now delivered 44 new affordable homes at Churchill Gardens, as well as new green space for the wider community. It’s a great example of how we can deliver the homes Westminster needs while helping people put down roots and stay part of the communities they call home.”
Paul Nicholls, Managing Director for London at Wates Residential, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve delivered at Darwin House and Balmoral House alongside Westminster City Council. Quality has been at the heart of this project, and the finished homes are a great example of what council housing can and should be.”
“Ultimately, it’s about creating homes where people can feel settled and families can thrive. Seeing the final homes ready to welcome their new residents is a fantastic milestone and a real credit to everyone who has played a part in delivering them.”
Westminster is not the only council stepping in to support residents with housing costs. In Canning Town, evacuated residents are paying no council tax while they are out of their homes. And the Grenfell Memory Project consultation has reported back on how the community wants the disaster remembered.
