Tag Archives: housing

More ‘co-living’ homes to be built near Myatt’s Fields – developer

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Plans have been unveiled to convert a row of shops on Brixton Road into a block of short-term lets, targeted at what developers call “young renters”.

The “co-living” approach involves residents renting a small apartment while sharing other facilities, including communal areas.

If it proceeds, the plan would see the row of shops at 274-280 Brixton Road rebuilt and converted into a total of 95 rooms, aimed at renters aged between 18 and 40. The new block would also include space for a cafe and other community facilities.

This is the second “co-living’ plan to be unveiled in our area – in February, developers consulted on a similar scheme on the corner of Cancell Road and Eliott Road.

The proposed site on the corner of Robsart Rd

In an invitation to the consultation, Siddo Dwyer, who represents the developers KMP Group – a local company founded in Streatham – said: “Our proposals seek to transform and rebuild an underutilised high street shopfront into an accessibly priced co-living scheme of 95 rooms, featuring large communal facilities, a concierge service, and opportunities to deliver social value through partnerships with local groups, including potential use of a dedicated community space.

“We are aware of the pressing housing challenges faced by Brixton and wider London, where many—particularly young people and some mature professionals—struggle to find secure and affordable accommodation. The co-living concept offers a flexible and affordable alternative, while also fostering a sense of community for its residents.”

The developers have arranged two public displays as part of the consultation process and have published more details here.


Date: Thursday 3rd April
Time: 4pm – 7pm
Location: The Hall, St John’s Angell Town Church, 49 Wiltshire Road, London, SW9 7NE
Date: Saturday 5th April
Time: 11am – 2pm
Location: The Hall, St John’s Angell Town Church, 49 Wiltshire Road, London, SW9 7NE

New council homes in Myatt’s Fields to be altered to allow easier living for vulnerable people – senior councillor

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Some of the flats in the new Patmos Lodge development will have more work done to enable better access for people with disabilities, it has been revealed.

Dozens of residents will shortly begin moving into the blocks, on the site of the old care home in Cancell Rd.

The development of 31 new homes includes social rent one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as accessible and much-needed larger family homes with three or four bedrooms and some private homes.

At a site visit, Cllr Claire Holland, who leads Lambeth Council said: “Patmos Lodge is a prime example of the high-quality, energy-efficient, sustainable, modern homes we want to provide for our residents. The new homes will meet the needs of some of the homeless families in Lambeth who desperately need a permanent place to live.


“I am delighted that over 56 residents will be moving into their new homes shortly and we are also making further modifications to the accessible homes to suit the needs of those vulnerable residents so they can also move into their new homes soon.”

Patmos Lodge has been built to high- energy efficiency standards with air-source heat pumps and solar panels included in each property. 

Myatt’s Fields Labour councillor Annie Gallop — herself a disability campaigner — said: “It was great to see these beautiful new homes ready to let, all fully adaptable and very accessible. Secure tenancies build better, happier and much stronger communities”.

Cllrs Gallop and Holland at the Patmos Lodge development, with Lambeth’s deputy leader, Cllr Dan Adilypour.

Councillor Gallop, along with Cllr Paul Gadsby, have been instrumental in bringing the project to the area. Cllr Gadsby said: “I was very pleased to speak in favour of this development at Lambeth’s planning committee a number of years ago: it is incredibly important we build more council homes as part of a mix of genuinely affordable housing for our residents. More of this please!”

Cllrs Gallop and Gadsby have long campaigned for the Patmos Lodge development

Twelve homes at the Lodge are being offered for private sale, the proceeds from which will be ploughed back into providing affordable housing in Lambeth.

Developers to consult Myatt’s Fields residents about “co-living” proposal.

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Plans have been unveiled to build a large block of what the developers call “high quality” accommodation for short-term lets.

The developers, InHouse, want to construct a five-storey block of 160 units on the corner of Cancell Rd and Elliott Road, next to the new Patmos Lodge site.

The Cancell Rd sit of the proposed new development.
The site of the proposed development on Cancell Rd

The development will include facilities including a gym, social areas and a roof garden. The accommodation, mostly small self-contained flats, will be offered for rent on short leases — three months or longer — to people attracted to the idea of communal living.

A public consultation session has been arranged at St John the Divine, 92 Vassall Rd, London, SW9 6JA on 27th February 2025 between 5pm – 7.30pm, supported by a document outlining the proposal.

Local councillors, who intend to respond to the consultation, are also asking for residents’ views: you can contact them here.

Renovating the vacant Cormont Road School ‘might cost £1.9 million’, councillors told

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Lambeth Council should work with the community to put the vacant Cormont School building in Myatt’s Fields back into use, according to local councillors.

The condition of the beautiful former Charles Edward Brook school has declined considerably since it became vacant in 2019, in part because the Department of Education delayed transferring ownership to the Council for a number of years.

Last year Myatts Field’s councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop received a commitment that the council would begin work to assess the future of the school and involve the community in deciding its future.

In a question to Lambeth’s Full Council meeting last month, Cllr Gadsby asked the Cabinet Member for Housing for an update amid growing community concern:

“The Charles Edward Brook site in Myatt’s Fields has been empty for some time after being handed over in a poor and declining state by the Conservative government. Can I ask the Cabinet Member for an update on the future of this building as local councillors are keen, as is the community, that the building is put back into use as soon as possible?“

In a lengthy response – which can be read here – the Council confirmed that officers were coming up with a strategy to develop the building for residential use. However, the council says there are significant hurdles, including the poor state of repair of the heritage site, and the likely exorbitant cost of simply making the building safe and preventing further damage – estimated at between £1.4 and £1.9 million which the authority says it cannot afford..

Cllrs Gadsby and Gallop said:

“The Charles Edward Brooke School building has been left vacant for far, far too long. The building needs to be both put back into use and restored to its former architectural glory. It is encouraging the council have carried out feasibility studies, including drone surveys, and it has to be acknowledged that there are financial hurdles which are made more difficult by more than a decade of economic chaos by the recently departed, but not missed, Tory government. However, we are calling on Lambeth to pick up the pace and make a call on the future of the building, in partnership with the local community.”

Residents overwhelmingly reject plans for a for-profit company to take over their homes

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Residents on the Lothian estate in Maytt’s Fields have overwhelmingly rejected proposals from a for-profit, private company to snatch control of their homes.

The results of a consultation, held at the end of last year, found that:

  • Around two thirds of eligible residents gave their views: a huge turnout from the community – thank you to everyone who took the time to vote!
  • A huge 82 per cent of council tenants said they did not want a ballot on the proposals
  • Every single leaseholder in the area voted no to a ballot being held.

This huge “no” vote came after local councillors and residents raised serious concerns about how the plans could affects the bills of tenants and leaseholders, and put the future of their homes in doubt. Vision Homes (Lambeth) Ltd and their partner PACCA TMO also clearly failed to convince residents that they had either expertise or ability to run their homes.

Speaking about the result, Cllr Paul Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop said:

“Lambeth Council have confirmed that they believe no ballot is now needed on these proposals given the large turnout and clear majority who rejected these plans. We support this position and would urge Vision Homes Lambeth to listen to the people and abandon the proposal. It is concerning that early indications appear to show that the for profit outfit still wants to continue with a ballot.

“We would like to thank everyone who has spoken to us about these takeover plans: we realise this process has been extremely stressful for many residents.”

Further reading on these proposals

Local housing boss warns residents could be left worse off by for-profit private company takeover plan

For-profit outfit unable to provide basic information about their proposals

Leaseholders will lose out under local home takeover plan

Have your say on Lambeth’s plans to deliver better standards for private renters

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Lambeth Council is asking for residents to share their views on a proposed expansion of it’s licensing schemes covering the private rented sector.

The consultation, which runs until 4 March 2024, aims to raise standards for the many thousands of private renters across Lambeth and in Myatt’s Fields, by requiring more landlords to obtain a license to rent out their property – which they will only receive if they meet minimum safety and other standards.

Speaking about the proposals, Cllr Maria Kay, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness said:

“We have already taken significant action to tackle poor standards in the private rented sector, and although most landlords operating in Lambeth provide our residents with decent, well managed and safe homes, we continue to uncover renters living in hazardous and unacceptable conditions.

“We are focussed on improving health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities for people in Lambeth. That’s why we have launched our consultation on the private rented property sector as part of our commitment to addressing these issues.

“It’s important that we hear from everyone who may be affected by our proposals. If you are a tenant or homeowner, or if you study or work in the borough, we need to hear from you. Your views are important and will help to ensure that we develop the best new scheme for everyone.

“We know that many of our residents are feeling the pressures of the current cost of living crisis and supporting our most vulnerable residents is a number one priority for all of us in Lambeth. That’s why we want to ensure that as many as possible have the chance to take part, share their views and comment on our proposals, and we are providing many different ways to engage with the consultation.”

Myatt’s Fields councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop are urging residents to give their views – find out more here.

You can also share your views by attending one of the virtual public meetings  being held on the following dates:

Date & Time: Wednesday 17 January 2024 at 6.30pm – Please register and reserve your place by clicking this link.

Date & Time: Wednesday 21 February 2024 at 6.30pm – Please register and reserve your place by clicking this link.

Local councillors urge Lothian estate residents to reject plans by for-profit, private company to take control of local homes

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Local Myatt’s Fields councillors have urged residents on the Lothian estate to reject plans by a for-profit, private company to take over control of local homes as a new consultation kicks off on the proposals.

After a year of what has been described as “baffling” delays from Vision Homes (Lambeth) Ltd and PACCA TMO, Lambeth council tenants and leaseholders on the Lothian estate will finally get their say on these troubling proposals. A consultation about the plans will start on 13 November and run until 18 December with residents set to receive information about the plans from an independent electoral organisation that will be running the exercise.

The proposals, which are the first time a for-profit company has attempted this kind of council home takeover in the UK, have drawn considerable fire from the local community and councillors. Cllr Paul Gadsby and Cllr Annie Gallop are warning residents that these proposals could result in:

  • New bills for residents: Vision Homes are proposing a new ‘Sink Fund’ charged to tenants, but they haven’t said much the charge will be, if there is any cap on how much it will be and what the fund will be used for. Vision Homes could also increase other bills like service charges during the year and ask you to pay VAT on services like repairs.
  • Concerns over the future of local homes: If Vision Homes were to sell homes on the estate to another company in the future, like a private developer, they will not be obligated to ballot residents to ask if they are happy with this sell off. Residents will also not be able to elect people to represent them on the “new board” that will be set up to run your estate: members of the board will be chosen by Vision Homes.
  • An organisation with no track record of running homes taking control of housing services: This for-profit company has no track record of running social housing. If this transfer goes ahead it would be the first of its kind anywhere in the UK.

Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Gallop are urging residents to express their concerns about these plans in the consultation: if residents indicate they are favour of this for-profit takeover, a ballot of council tenants will happen in early 2024.

Cllr Gadsby and Cllr Gallop said:

“We have heard from many residents on the Lothian estate who are worried sick about these proposals. We would strongly urge residents to reject these proposals.”

“We want to thank the many residents who have spoken to us about these worrying plans: please get in touch if you want to speak to us further. “

Further reading on these proposals

Local housing boss warns residents could be left worse off by for-profit private company takeover plan

For-profit outfit unable to provide basic information about their proposals

Leaseholders will lose out under local home takeover plan

Local communities asked for views on borough’s critical new housing strategy

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Myatt’s Fields residents are being urged to have a say in plans for a far-reaching housing strategy designed to change the way people live in Lambeth for the better.

Lambeth Council has unveiled the proposals which focus on how the authority might improve the way housing services are run, particularly to its thousands of tenants and leaseholders, and how more genuinely affordable homes can be built across the borough..

Lambeth residents can find out more here and are encouraged to respond to the plans here.

Myatt’s Fields Labour councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop welcomed the initiative and have urged residents to give their views.

Councillor Maria Kay, Cabinet Member for Better Homes and Reducing Homelessness, has published a video explaining the council’s proposals.

Lothian estate coffee morning – come along and meet your local councillors!

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Local Myatt’s Fields councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop are hosting a coffee morning for local residents on the Lothian estate this coming Saturday.

This drop-in event is open to all residents to pop along and discuss any local issues with Annie and Paul, whether it’s ideas for improving our community, or a personal matter that may require a helping hand from councillors.

The coffee morning will be held at St John the Divine Community Centre, 21 Frederick Crescent (SW9 6XN), on Saturday 28 October, 11am-1.30pm.

Many residents have been concerned about the proposed take over of council homes on the Lothian estate by a private company. This has now been dragging on for almost a year, with Lambeth Council saying it is “baffling” that the for-profit outfit behind the proposed privatisation of local homes has failed to provide basic financial information on how they would run essential services, including repairs, for residents.

If you are concerned about these proposals, please contact councillors here.

More delays hit private company’s attempted take over of council homes on the Lothian Estate

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Lambeth Council have confirmed that there is still no end in sight to the year long saga of an attempt by a private, for-profit company to take over council homes on the Lothian estate in Myatt’s Fields.

In April, Lambeth wrote to residents telling them that Vision Homes (Lambeth) LTD and PACCA TMO LTD, had not produced key details of their plans that would allow a consultation and then ballot to take place on their proposals to grab the ownership of more than 200 council tenant properties on the Lothian estate.

In November last year, Cllr Maria Kay (Cabinet member for Better Homes and Reducing Homelessness in Lambeth) wrote a similarly strongly worded letter to tenants warning these plans could leave them worse off financially. Local councillors Paul Gadsby and Annie Gallop also have raised concerns that leaseholders, owing to national legislation, will be excluded from the ballot, but will have their leases transferred to this private company should tenants vote “yes” to the proposals in a ballot.

Lambeth Council say that, as the summer draws to a close, key details have still not been provided that would allow a ballot to take place. Cllr Kay said:

“It is incredibly disappointing that residents around the Lothian estate have now been waiting for almost a year for this situation to be clarified. I am baffled as to why it has taken the private company so long to clarify basic information about how their financial plans stack up. We will continue as a council to raise our concerns about these dangerous and potentially disasterous plans.”

Below: a copy of the letter written to tenants in April.