Harrow Council Buys 140 Homes Under Urgency Procedure

Harrow Council has purchased 140 newly built homes using an urgency procedure, it was revealed at a council meeting on 27 November 2025. The homes will be added to the Housing Revenue Account.

The decision, made by the Leader of the Council on 21 October 2025, was due to a time-sensitive opportunity to secure 140 newly built homes in Harrow, according to a report presented at the meeting. The report stated that approval was sought to submit a bid without delay, so the opportunity is not lost to competing interests. This urgency arose because the council needed to act quickly to secure the properties amidst competing bids.

The purchase was one of several decisions taken under the urgency procedure since the last council meeting on 18 September 2025, as detailed in the Information Report - Use of Urgency Procedure - Executive. These decisions are reported to the next available council meeting, in accordance with the council's constitution.

Since the council meeting on September 18, 2025, four decisions were taken under the urgency procedure:

• Provision of Community Equipment Services: The Leader of the Council made a decision on 19 September 2025, due to the need to ensure continuity of provision of community equipment services.
• An Experimental Traffic Order to improve Rayners Lane Town Centre: The Leader of the Council made a decision on 2 October 2025, due to significant road safety concerns in the Rayners Lane area.
• Highways, Street Lighting and Associated Works Procurement: The Leader of the Council made a decision on 30 September 2025, to abandon a procurement exercise and to exercise the extension provision in the existing highway contract.
• Acquisition of Homes for the Housing Revenue Account: The Leader of the Council made a decision on 21 October 2025, due to a time-sensitive opportunity to secure 140 newly built homes in Harrow.

The Information Report - Use of Urgency Procedure - Executive states that ward councillors, outside organisations and interested parties were consulted on the reports, as appropriate.