Published: Monday 30 September 2024
Thirty-two brand new homes have been unveiled in North Kensington this week as the latest part of Kensington and Chelsea Council’s new homes programme.
Acklam Road, which was officially opened by Deputy Leader Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith, is the third completed scheme in the Council’s new homes programme and offers 20 council homes for social tenants, four of which are accessible, along with 12 market rent homes. The scheme was recently named the best affordable housing development for under £20million at the Inside Housing Development Awards.
The scheme’s high-quality homes include ensuite facilities to all three-bed and the majority of two-bed properties. All homes have winter gardens – an indoor-outdoor living space – as well as air-source heat pumps and thermally efficient doors and windows, making them environmentally friendly and cost effective for residents in line with the green commitment in our Council Plan.
We have worked closely with local residents to design a new community space as part of the development, which is dedicated to the Swinbrook community, alongside a training office and a space for neighbours Al Manaar.
Members of Golborne Youth Centre, which also neighbours the scheme, joined the opening ceremony to unveil some artwork alongside a plaque. The Centre benefited from a new kitchen thanks to the social value work undertaken by contractors Morgan Sindall.
Of the artwork, Golborne Youth Centre user Adam Yacobi said:
“I am proud to present this artwork which was created by the youngsters of our youth centre. The message they want it to deliver is unity and how when we are together, we are stronger and can achieve whatever we want.
“This is in line with Al Mannar’s aim, who run the youth club, to support children in the community and help protect and keep them safe.”
Our housing teams are currently working on allocating the properties to those on our Housing Register and we hope to see people moving in during the coming weeks.
Cllr Taylor-Smith was joined at the opening of Acklam Road by representatives from contractor, Morgan Sindall, members of Swinbrook Residents’ Association, local councillors and Lead Member for Housing, Cllr Sof McVeigh.
Cllr Sof McVeigh, Lead Member for Housing, said:
“As the lead member for housing I’m pleased to be taking on the new homes programme from Cllr Taylor-Smith, my predecessor, who has spearheaded the programme.
“Acklam Road is a beautifully designed scheme with such attention to detail. All of the homes of are a high spec and the brickwork intentionally mirrors that of the Al Mannar Cultural Heritage Centre opposite so is in keeping with the local area.
“I am proud that we are seeing much-needed new homes built for our residents. We know that times are tough, but we will do everything we can to honour our commitment to deliver new homes for our communities.
“Over the last year we have seen the developments at Hewer Street, Kelso Cochrane House and now Acklam Road completed, in total offering 90 homes for social rent, key workers and market rent.”
Richard Dobson, Morgan Sindall Construction’s Area Director for London, said:
“The Acklam Road development has been an exciting project for us to work on, as not only has it created many, much needed, social rent homes but it will also provide the local community with a variety of valuable new spaces.
“Our community-centric approach means that this new facility has been tailored to the local area and incorporates many advanced features while being built in a way that minimised disruption in what is a very busy area.
“A key driver for us is always to generate as much social value as possible, and Acklam Road has been a real showcase in how this can be done on any project, regardless of size.
"The team have collaborated with an impressive range of local organisations and charities, from the Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, to the social enterprise business Development 4 All, as well as schools, universities the Met Police and many others.
“This has resulted in a significant amount of training and upskilling opportunities for local people as well as numerous community initiatives.”
For more information on the Council’s new homes programme visit webtest.rbkc.gov.uk/housing/new-homes-safer-homes