London’s Lewisham Borough has announced it will reduce its housing waiting list through the construction of “prefabricated villages”.
Planners working in the borough have approved 34 homes to be built in a new seven-storey timber-framed building in south-east London.
The accommodation will be provided temporarily for homeless families and will include windows, cladding, electricity, plumbing, a ready-to-use kitchen and bathrooms, and is expected to be completed in 2020.
Damian Egan, Mayor of Lewisham, said: “We are committed to delivering 1,000 new social homes over the next four years, which will be the borough’s largest social housing program in decades.” said.
“This highly innovative project will provide 34 homes and a community nursery for homeless families in the borough,” he added.
Lewisham is suffering from a severe housing shortage. There are 10,000 people on the waiting list for housing in the district and more than 2,000 families living in temporary housing.
“Our aim here in Lewisham is to make a real difference to people’s lives. We will build more truly affordable homes, improve living standards for existing properties and improve energy Residents can reduce home operating costs through improved efficiency We can and will help them. And we will continue to reach out to support residents facing real hardship and inevitable homelessness.” Commissioner Egan said in the district’s housing strategy.
