£211m boost to upgrade 12 london housing estates

Major new funding package will enhance quality, safety, and sustainability of 2,900 London homes, including social housing 

Programme includes upgrades to kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, lifts, roofs, and communal spaces

Long-term commitment to London’s communities builds on City Corporation’s previous £110 million housing investment

The City of London Corporation has today approved a multi-million programme to accelerate upgrades across its 12 housing estates in the Square Mile and six London boroughs.

Elected Members were asked to approve an allocation of £152 million from the City’s Fund to support the major works programme totalling £211 million.

The decision was confirmed at today’s meeting of the Court of Common Council, the City Corporation’s top decision-making body.

This programme will deliver upgrades to 2,900 homes, including replacement windows, modern kitchens and bathrooms, updated heating systems, refurbished lifts, electrical improvements, new roofs, and enhanced communal areas.

The ten-year investment will significantly enhance the quality, safety, and sustainability of the City Corporation’s homes across the City, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, and Tower Hamlets.

The financial package will also help bridge a substantial gap in the organisation’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA), a challenge faced by many local authorities due to historic underfunding, rising construction costs, and enhanced national safety and compliance requirements.

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said:

• “Providing good-quality, safe homes for our residents is a fundamental responsibility, and today’s decision demonstrates our absolute commitment to that duty.

• “This is a major investment in people, communities, and the long-term future of our estates.

• “We will accelerate improvements, enhance compliance, and deliver the modern, sustainable homes our residents rightly expect.”

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Community & Children’s Services Committee, Helen Fentimen, said:

• “This investment marks a turning point for our residents and our estates and ensures we can continue to deliver on the programme of major works and improvements that is already underway.

• “We recognise that the scale of work required has long exceeded the resources available within the HRA, and we have taken decisive action to put that right.

• “Our residents deserve safe, warm, high-quality homes, and this next phase of the Housing Investment programme will deliver exactly that, ensuring we meet the highest standards of safety, sustainability, and landlord responsibility.

• “We are committed to delivering repairs and maintenance across the board and will ensure that the highest standards then continue to be delivered.”