Wandsworth Council is set to lease 186 new temporary accommodation units in the Tooting Broadway ward, a move aimed at providing stable housing for homeless families and achieving significant cost savings.
The Wandsworth Council Cabinet discussed and approved the plan, which involves a six-year lease agreement for a newly developed block of self-contained units. The lease includes a fixed uplift on a yearly basis of 5% from year 2 and a mutual break clause applying from the start of year 5. This decision, made at a meeting on Monday 14 July 2025, delegates authority to the Executive Director of Housing, in consultation with the Executive Director of Finance, to finalise the lease agreement.
The move comes as the council grapples with increasing demand for temporary accommodation and rising costs. According to the Annual Resources Report, overall use of temporary accommodation is up by around five per cent.
Councillor Ireland, Cabinet Member for Finance, noted that budgets remain under pressure, particularly in homelessness and social care. The report mentions that the potential £1 million per year savings are based on moving the most expensive placements into the new scheme and cancelling existing placements. It also notes that the placement to the newly procured units needs to be managed effectively and tracked to evidence the benefit gain. However, it does not specify the exact mechanisms for ensuring and tracking these savings.
The new accommodation aims to provide self-contained units with kitchen and bathroom facilities, addressing the need for quality temporary housing within the borough. The location in Tooting Broadway ward is intended to keep residents within Wandsworth, allowing them to maintain access to local services and support networks. The report also highlights potential savings of around £1 million per year in public money compared to the current costliest temporary accommodation options.
Councillor Deekodem, Cabinet Member for Housing, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that it offers a clear opportunity to focus on both the quality of the accommodation and savings to the public purse. He also assured residents that Wandsworth Council will be accountable for running the service effectively.
