In Flotilla House next to Wandsworth Bridge
New shared ownership homes on the banks of the River Thames promise to give more people a chance to get a foot on the capital’s housing ladder.Twenty seven shared ownership homes have been made available as part of the latest addition to the Battersea Reach development next to Wandsworth Bridge.
Flotilla House, in Juniper Drive, is made up of 80 units, with eight one-bed apartments and 19 two-bed apartments available on a shared ownership basis.
All of these low cost homes were secured as part of the planning conditions agreed between the council and the developer, and future phases of the development will deliver even more affordable housing units - up to a total of 330 flats.
The riverside housing, which has been built close to York Road by developer St George Ltd with Notting Hill Housing as the registered provider, has already seen the construction of 38 social rent properties.
Of these homes, 26 have been allocated to tenants on the council's housing waiting list, with the remaining 12 going to previously homeless housing applicants - which in turn opened up existing properties in the borough to others in need of housing.
Wandsworth's housing spokesman, Cllr Paul Ellis said: "Increasing housing choice, assisting working households access social housing and helping create opportunities for people to own their own home are all priorities for the council.
"There's no escaping the fact that it's difficult to buy your first home in London. However, the borough is attracting valuable investment from developers, and we are working to ensure that many new homes are affordable and can be bought on shared ownership terms by people who live or work here.
"By continuing to work with developers, housing associations and landlords, the council aims to make sure that Wandsworth offers a good mix of high-quality properties for local people to rent and affordable homes to buy."
Wandsworth Council currently runs several schemes to help people buy their first home.
Shared Ownership opportunities in Wandsworth are available to first time buyers who live or work in the borough with a household income of less than £64,300 (for a one or two bedroom property) or £77,200 (for a three bedroom home).
Council tenants can buy their own home under Right to Buy. The maximum discount for this has recently been increased to £75,000 following a successful campaign led by the council to increase the level of discount social housing tenants can receive.
Alternatively, council tenants can use a House Purchase Grant to buy a home on the open market, to extend the home of a relative or put it towards buying a shared ownership property.
To find out more about home buying opportunities in Wandsworth visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/homeownership, contact the Home Ownership Team on (020) 8871 6016/6017 or email housesales@wandsworth.gov.uk.
For other housing related advice call (020) 8871 6840, email housingadvice@wandsworth.gov.uk or visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/housing.