The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader), Councillor Sarah Williams, approved significant investment in structural repairs and hostel refurbishments. A contract worth over £3.6 million was awarded for major works to four hostels in Muswell Hill, and a Measured Term Contract valued at £2 million was established for essential structural repairs across the borough.

Hostels - Major Works Programme

Councillor Sarah Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader), approved the award of a contract to Tenderer A for the sum of £3,600,817.13 for the refurbishment of four council-owned hostels. These properties are located at 9, 32, and 39 Queens Avenue, and 19 Princess Avenue, all in Muswell Hill. The contract will run for 12 months, commencing in April 2026 and concluding in March 2027, with financial completion expected by August 2027. Additionally, expenditure of sums detailed in an exempt report was approved, along with the issuance of a Letter of Intent for £360,000 to allow the contractor to begin ordering supplies before the formal contract is finalised.

The decision to award the contract to Tenderer A was based on their submission being the most advantageous, achieving a score of 97.75% out of 100% for a balance of price and quality. An alternative option of postponing the works until Partnering Contractors were appointed was considered but discounted. This was because most rooms in the hostels were vacant and awaiting refurbishment, and there was an urgent need to upgrade the properties to maximise income generation. A standalone procurement route was deemed necessary to bring the hostels back into use without further delay.

The refurbishment works will include structural repairs, replacement of roof coverings, external fabric repairs, refurbishment of communal spaces, and the replacement of windows and entrance doors. Decarbonisation measures such as air source heat pumps and solar panels will be installed, aiming to improve the average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating from D/E to C. Fire safety upgrades, including fire-rated entrance doors and enhanced compartmentation, will also be implemented. Where feasible, existing shared facilities will be reconfigured to create self-contained units to enhance resident privacy and independence. These works are expected to significantly improve the condition and functionality of the properties, ensuring they meet current decent homes standards and contributing to the council's Net Zero Carbon (NZC) commitments.

The project was tendered via Lot 2.3 of Haringey's London Construction Programme (LCP) Housing Framework. Five compliant bids were received, and Tenderer A achieved the highest score. The works are funded from the Asset Management's Capital Works Programme budget.

MTC - Structural Programme (2026-2028)

Councillor Sarah Williams also approved the award of a Measured Term Contract (MTC) to Tenderer A for £2,000,000 to carry out essential structural works to properties across the borough. This contract will run for two years, from May 2026 to May 2028, with financial completion expected by December 2029. A Letter of Intent for £200,000 was also approved, enabling the contractor to commence work by placing orders with their supply chain. Professional fees of £301,555 were also approved, bringing the total project cost to £2,301,555.

The decision was made because the council has been experiencing a high and increasing volume of structural referrals across its housing stock, driven by defects identified through inspections and resident reports. Procuring these works as standalone projects had proven inefficient and costly. The MTC offers a more efficient and flexible solution, allowing the council to respond quickly, minimise structural risks, and reduce potential disrepair claims. It also enables better programme control and cost certainty through an agreed schedule of rates.

The MTC model supports grouping multiple projects under a single contractual framework, reducing procurement overheads and ensuring specialist capability is retained. The £2,000,000 contract value is an estimated cost, as the actual volume of work will depend on ongoing structural assessments and prioritisation. The professional fees cover structural engineering, building surveying, contract administration, CDM 2015 principal designer responsibilities, cost consultancy, and party wall surveying. The properties included in the programme will generally comprise single dwellings, converted houses, and low to medium-rise blocks, and the works will restore and maintain their long-term integrity. This initiative supports the council's Housing Asset Management Strategy objective to ensure housing assets are safe and compliant with Building Safety Regulations, and aligns with the Corporate Delivery Plan (2024–2026) objectives under the Homes for the Future and Place and Economy themes.

The project was tendered via the London Construction Programme Housing Framework. Two compliant bids were received, and Tenderer A was ranked first, offering the most advantageous tender with a score of 88.5% based on 40% price, 50% quality, and 10% social value. An alternative option of procuring individual projects was discounted due to increased cumulative costs and delayed delivery. Delivering these works under existing partnering contracts was also deemed unsuitable as those arrangements are designed for planned maintenance rather than specialist structural remediation. The council has a statutory duty to maintain its housing stock, and this programme will help meet the objective of achieving Decent Homes Standard compliance across all homes by 2028.