Sanya Polescuk, Committee member, writes:
Two years ago, and six years after starting the campaign for affordable housing on the site, NW3 Community Land Trust finally secured the recommendation for Planning Permission from Camden Council for a new building in Daleham Gardens.
Last year the Trust signed a Section 106 Agreement and Agreement for a 250-year Lease with the Council and appointed a building contractor to prepare documents for construction, under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA). The contractor’s tender return has recently been received and an update on the financing and procurement options from the Trust’s development advisors is expected shortly. All being well, work on site is planned to begin later this year and completion is scheduled for 2028.
The building will occupy the site of the burned-down council block which tragically went up in flames back in late 2017. It will provide 14 new flats, eight of which will be affordable and six will be sold on the open market. The flats will range from one to three bedrooms. A shared garden will lie to the south of the building bordering with the site of the council block at 30 Daleham Gardens.
The work on Heads of Terms with CDS Co-operatives, who will be managing the two social rental homes and the building generally, is progressing well. Draft leases for the six Discounted Market Sale (DMS) homes and the Allocation Policy are being developed too. The draft Allocation Policy will be shared with the Trust’s members for comments this Spring, ahead of the final Policy being submitted to Camden Council for approval. Sales agents JLL have been appointed to market the homes with the sales scheduled to begin in 2027.
The NW3 CLT Board of seven is entirely voluntary, meaning no one is paid for their time or expenses. The Board members do not have an interest in acquiring the DMS or Social Rented flats and therefore are solely com mitted to using their combined experience for the delivery of affordable housing options for members and local people. If you are interested in supporting the Board by volunteering your time, however limited – we would love to hear from you. Please do send a message on info@nw3clt.org.uk .
NW3 CLT is the first registered North London Community Land Trust and was set up in April 2016. Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are community-led local organisations set up and run by ordinary people to develop and manage homes as well as other assets important to that community, such as community enterprises, food growing areas, or workspaces. As a CLT that is focused on housing NW3 CLT’s main task is to make sure that homes are genuinely affordable, based on what people actually earn in our area, not just for now but for all future occupiers. More information about the NW3 CLT is available here: www.nw3clt.org.uk
