New ‘selective licensing’ property scheme set to get the go-ahead in Lambeth

Proposals to turn four council wards in Lambeth into a new 'Selective Licensing' area for housing are set to be approved by the council's cabinet tonight (Thursday). The four wards - Knights Hill, Streatham Common and Vale, Streatham Hill East, and Streatham St Leonards - will become a designated areas for a five-year period from  from …

Who owns 53 empty homes on Lambeth’s Central Hill estate? Um…er…”We’re still compiling the information” say England’s 279th worst council (as News From Crystal Palace reveals the actual number of ‘voids’ could be as high as 67)

Lambeth council say they are unable to state who owns 53 empty properties on the Central Hill estate in Crystal Palace - because they are still compiling their answer to a Freedom of Information request. But the ACTUAL figure could be as high as 67, News From Crystal Palace can reveal today.* A Lambeth council …

Community: Executive Mayor attends memorial garden opening… Council film picks up two awards… New Portuguese Fall of Fascism exhibition opens in Tate South Lambeth library… Croydon murder charge… Woman dies in Bromley flat fire… …More Croydon town centre regeneration workshops planned for April and May

From Croydon's executive Mayor Jason Perry: It was a privilege to be at the opening of a memorial garden at Hamsey Green Pond in Sanderstead for those who have suffered the loss of a baby. I joined Lauren and Connor, the parents of Evie LeMasurier who tragically passed away a day after she was born. …

Queens hotel plans: Councillors voice concerns over living conditions of asylum seekers

"In some rooms you can stand with your arms out and touch both sides of them" - councillor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Plans to add extensions to the historic Queens hotel on Church Road, Crystal Palace have been narrowly approved by a Croydon council planning committee after councillors voiced concerns over the living conditions of asylum seekers who …

Mayor says there were no plans to sell or lease Green Belt land to golf club (or to hand it over)

"No discussions have taken place since and I have no intention, and never have, of selling, leasing or entering into any other agreement which would give control or use of this Green Belt land to the golf club. "These meetings were also not attended by any representatives from the council’s asset disposal team." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Croydon's …

Political diary One: “Council vows to confront ‘moral scar’ on society as cabinet support ambitious delivery programme” – (And as history repeats itself…*)

Well, that's what the headline on the latest housing communique from Lambeth council says. The headline is twaddle. The communique continues: "A new housing strategy and a revised allocations policy which had both been subject to public consultation were overwhelmingly approved, along with the New Homes Programme which aims to deliver a minimum of 500 new homes by 2030. Cllr …

Revised Norwood Road plans include block of “up to” nine storeys

Lambeth council are inviting views on their plans to develop 13 sites across the borough - including one covering a huge area on Norwood Road in West Norwood town centre. Their original plans for Norwood Road - which local Labour councillors were unaware of before they were announced - caused local uproar with more than …

Have your say on Lambeth’s plans to develop 13 sites “to deliver homes and workspaces across the borough”

From Lambeth council: We’re looking for feedback from people who live and work in Lambeth and know these sites and the area and communities around them. Tell us if you think the plans for development of these meet agreed tests of ‘soundness set out in national policy, para 35.* We want your ideas on Lambeth’s …

Plan for Croydon revised after “listening to residents”… New moves include ensuring planned Houses in Multiple Occupation have “high standard of living”

Croydon council say they have taken the next step towards revising the local plan "which sets out how the housing needs of the borough will be met while protecting character and creating vibrant places for people to live, work and visit." The plan, approved by the executive Mayor and cabinet on Wednesday, includes plans for …

Queen’s hotel extension plans: Councillor seeks protections for asylum-seeking residents

A Croydon councillor says she wants to safeguard vulnerable asylum seekers during -  and after - works to the historic Queens hotel on Church Road, Crystal Palace if extension plans for part of the building are approved tonight (Thursday). ~ Cllr Claire Bonham wants to ensure there are protections in place to "safeguard the current …