Richmond Council have announced their approval of 30 new affordable homes due to be built at the former Council-owned ‘Strathmore’ site in Teddington.

The news broke on Tuesday morning (October 13) with a council spokesperson confirming the decision made by the Planning Committee last week (October 7).

In the statement released Tuesday, a council spokesperson confirmed that the now-approved plans include provision for 24 affordable homes for rent, plus six affordable shared accommodation.

In total there will be 6 one-bedroom, 17 two-bedroom and 7 three-bedroom apartments at the site.

Richmond and Twickenham Times: Screenshot of proposed play area at the new development via Richmond CouncilScreenshot of proposed play area at the new development via Richmond Council

Meanwhile a number of other provisions in the development have also been given the greenlight. They include a “new nursery building for the existing nursery service”, plus an additional 36 parking spaces and new landscaping in the area.

The council described the development as “the biggest scheme using Council owned land in more than 10 years” in the borough.

The development is being led by Developers PA Housing, but Richmond Council maintained they would be nominating who would get the opportunity to live there.

“The rented homes will be allocated to households nominated by the Council and priority will be given to households who live and/or work in the Borough to purchase the shared ownership homes,” a spokesperson said.

Richmond Council’s Lead Member for Housing Cllr Liz Jaeger described the development as “much-needed” in the borough on Tuesday:

“The unused buildings at the Strathmore site have been an eyesore for some time. The brownfield site is ideal for the much-needed affordable housing local residents need.

“There are many challenges when it comes to delivering affordable housing in Richmond upon Thames. I am delighted that the Council works with local housing associations to make its own land available to deliver more affordable homes for our residents who need them,” she said.

Richmond and Twickenham Times: Screenshot of proposed plan for landscaping at the site. Image via Richmond CouncilScreenshot of proposed plan for landscaping at the site. Image via Richmond Council

Cllr Jaeger added that other affordable housing developments were currently under scrutiny as the council looks to meet its quota of building new houses amid a national shortage.

“This is one of several sites that the Council is working on to deliver more affordable housing on Council land, and other sites will also be considered for planning consent in the coming months,” she said, adding that the council were working with managers to ensure that the existing nursery at the site — Scamps — “can continue to operate whilst the new buildings are being built and then occupy the brand new facility”.

The UK needs to build over three million new homes in the next 20 years to meet the deepening housing crisis according to a report published in January this year by an independent cross-party commission and supported by homelessness charity Shelter.