Mayor and cabinet approve plans to convert a building in Brockley into homeless family housing
By Grainne Cuffe, local democracy reporter
Lewisham’s mayor and cabinet has approved plans to convert a building in Brockley into temporary accommodation for ten homeless families.
The building at 114 to 116 Manor Avenue is owned by the council, but has been let to housing association L&Q since 1983.
A report, which recommended the conversion, was approved by mayor and cabinet on Wednesday (May 19).
The plans are still subject to planning permission.
Cllr Paul Bell, cabinet member for housing and planning said: “As the report notes we have around 2,500 households in temporary accommodation with many families having to be accommodated outside the borough.
“This proposal would enable us to house more families in Lewisham and also reduce the cost of nightly-paid accommodation for the council.”
L&Q has been using the building, currently made up of 13 rooms with shared facilities and a two-bedroom flat for a caretaker, as temporary accommodation for single adults.
Cllr Bell said: “However, the current configuration of the building is not efficient and is no longer fit for purpose.
“A feasibility study found that ten self-contained homes can be provided and used for in-borough temporary accommodation, housing up to 35 people […] and helping meet demand for family-sized accommodation in Lewisham.”
All the existing residents have been offered self-contained homes through Lewisham Homesearch or from L&Q if they wish to move out of the borough, Cllr Bell said.
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