The Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Monday 7 September 2026 approved the award of a contract for the construction of nine new council homes at Kings Road Car Park, N17. This decision will see the redevelopment of an underutilised car park into much-needed family-sized social housing.

Approval to Award Contract, Kings Road Car Park, N17

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Tammy Hymas, approved the award of a contract to Contractor A for the development of nine new council homes at Kings Road Car Park, N17 8NP. The total contract sum is £3,950,256. This decision is part of the Council's commitment to deliver 3,000 new council homes by 2031.

The development will provide nine four-bedroom, three-storey homes for Social Rent, addressing a shortage of larger affordable homes in the borough. The scheme aims to alleviate overcrowding and provide suitable accommodation for families currently in temporary housing. The project also includes landscaping and improved public realm features, such as enhanced lighting and CCTV, to address existing issues of anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping at the site.

The decision also involved the appropriation of the land from housing purposes to planning purposes, and subsequently back to housing purposes upon completion. This legal process, enabled by Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 and Section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016, allows the Council to override third-party rights that might otherwise impede the development, with a right to compensation for affected parties. Authority was delegated to the Delivery Director of Capital Projects and Property to implement these appropriations and manage any compensation payments.

The report highlighted that the site was approved for the Council's Housing Delivery Programme in October 2021, and planning permission was granted in February 2026. Financial appraisals confirmed the scheme's viability and value for money. The procurement process involved re-tendering after an initial single compliant bid was deemed not to represent sufficient value. The second procurement exercise, conducted via the LCP Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), resulted in the identification of Contractor A as the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT).

The development is designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating Passivhaus principles for energy efficiency, air source heat pumps, and solar photovoltaic panels. The scheme has also been shortlisted for the 2026 Housing Design Awards.

Consultation with residents under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1985 revealed concerns primarily related to the loss of 40 car parking spaces. Mitigations include offering residents permits for surrounding controlled parking zones, designating the new homes as car-free, and providing one dedicated disabled bay. The council also committed to improving CCTV and lighting in the area and will cover the cost of re-providing bin stores.

The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) concluded that the development would have a positive impact on equalities, particularly for groups disproportionately affected by housing need, such as BAME residents, women, disabled people, and low-income households. While acknowledging potential negative impacts from the loss of parking, the EQIA found that these were mitigated through accessible design, transport connectivity, and inclusive public realm improvements. The report also noted that the scheme would help advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between groups.