Affordable homes on the site of garage buildings will go towards council’s 1,000-unit target

Kersfield Estate - artist impression of proposed homes

Source: Mae

Wandsworth council has been given the nod to build more than 40 affordable homes on an infill site occupying part of the Kersfield estate in south west London.

Designed by Mae, which is working with Croydon council’s development company Brick by Brick on a number of small site schemes in the south London borough, the 41 Wandsworth homes are part of the local authority’s plan to build 1,000 mixed-tenure homes by 2025.

The council, advised by Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design, aims to construct a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments on the site of redundant garage buildings, an old electricity substation and low-quality open public areas.

In addition, plans put together by Camlins have been agreed to relandscape areas of the existing estate with replacement trees, childrens’ play areas and storage space for bicycles and refuse.

Chris Jones, Wandsworth council’s assistant director of housing strategy and development, said: “With Tibbalds’ assistance we have been able to gain planning approval for what will be a challenging site to develop.

“A key factor in this success has been the excellent approach taken to resident engagement and how plans have then been developed and adapted to take on resident comments.”

A council spokesman said it had yet to appoint a contractor to build the latest batch of homes.

Part of Wandsworth’s promise to build 1,000 homes in the next six years – 60% of which will be for social rent or low cost home ownership – includes prioritising local workers and existing borough residents and building on 100 council-owned sites.

The council said work was underway on more than a dozen sites located in Balham, Battersea, Putney Vale and Southfields, delivering in excess of 100 new homes.