Issue - items at meetings - 505-511 Archway Road, N6

Report of the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (S151 Officer). To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Housing & Planning (Deputy Leader)

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST MADE FOR THIS ITEM:

None

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

Approved the commencement of procurement exercise in accordance with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 2.01 b), for the new build development of 16 Council Homes at 505-511 Archway Road, for an anticipated total contract and client contingency set out in the exempt Appendix 2 of this report.
Delegated the appropriate route to market to the Chief Procurement Officer in compliance with the Councils’ CSO’s.

Reasons for decisions

The site known as 505-511 Archway Road, was approved by Cabinet in January 2021 to be included in the Council’s Housing Delivery programme. A planning application outlining proposals for the redevelopment of the site was submitted on 02 May 2025. (planning reference: HGY/2025/1220). The scheme is scheduled to be considered for approval at Planning Committee in Autumn 2025.

Financial appraisals supported by the independent cost consultant demonstrate that the scheme is viable and value for money can be achieved via the procurement route detailed in Section 6.3 of this report.

The site proposal will provide 16 much-needed affordable homes on Council-owned land, including M4(3) wheelchair homes and family homes, with associated refuse stores, cycle stores, service space, amenity space and landscaping. These 16 homes will contribute to our aspiration to build 3000 Council homes by 2031.

The Council’s Contract Standing Order item 2.01.b) requires Cabinet approval to commence a procurement exercise for proposed contracts valued £500k or above.

Alternative options considered

We could choose not to proceed to a competitive tender and develop this site for housing purposes. However, this option was rejected as it does not support the Council’s commitment to deliver a new generation of Council homes, with associated public realm improvements.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services introduced the report.

The Cabinet Member explained that the Council aimed to build a fairer and greener borough. It was noted that London had a housing crisis and that the Council was seeing more and more local residents unable to afford rents, let alone afford to buy.

It was explained that, in order to help addressing this situation, the Council, with financial support from both the Mayor of London and the government, were building at least 3,000 new council homes with a focus as much on quality as quantity. It was explained that the proposed development of 505 Archway Road would inlcude 16 new council homes in the north west of the borough, designed using Passivhaus insulation principles, powered by heat pumps and solar panels, and designed to minimise noise from the main road.

In response to comments and questions from Councillors Hakata and Emery, the following information was shared:

Officers explained that the Council would implement appropriately sized windows for the properties, which would ensure good shading and cooling, to ensure that they do not overheat during summer months.
It was explained that it was expected that a start would be made on site by March 2026, with an 18 month to two-year timescale for completion of the site.