Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Cabinet has approved a capital programme totalling £452.2 million for the next four financial years, aimed at developing and enhancing council assets, including its housing stock, to meet strategic objectives and improve resident outcomes. The programme, spanning from 2026/27 to 2029/30, includes significant investments in the council's 12,000 housing units, with upgrades planned for lifts, heating equipment, and climate-friendly improvements.
Specific climate-friendly improvements for the council's housing stock include a significant investment of £49 million over four years for retrofit projects aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. These efforts align with the Council's Climate and Ecology Strategy, which aims to deliver net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Capital strategy measures include delivering retrofit programmes for council homes and non-domestic buildings to improve energy efficiency and low-carbon heating, building industry-leading Passivhaus homes with zero fossil fuels, identifying opportunities for new heat networks, and expanding active travel infrastructure.
Additionally, the plan allocates funds for the development of 298 new dwellings, with 218 designated as affordable homes. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) will see a significant investment of £318.8 million over the same four-year period, focusing on fire safety, structural integrity, asset replacement, disabled adaptations, and climate emergency measures. The HRA Business Plan includes plans for building 198 new homes and a £49 million investment in retrofit projects to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
Key projects within the capital programme also encompass the completion of a new Civic Campus facility. This development is described as 'coming to conclusion' with residual related budgets within the 2026/27 to 2029/30 capital programme window. The completed campus will provide new, fit-for-purpose, inclusively designed office accommodation for the Council, alongside facilities for residents, including a new five-screen cinema, café/restaurant, retail, and public event spaces.
Upgrades to school facilities are also slated, alongside continued pre-restoration works for Hammersmith Bridge. The Council has incurred £17 million in spend for these pre-restoration works up to October 2025, covering activities such as the removal of gas mains, planning applications, geotechnical works, and procurement development. To date, the Council has spent £54 million on these works, with the expectation that the Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL) will contribute their share. Under a funding settlement from June 2, 2021, TfL and DfT agreed to fund two-thirds of the total project costs. The DfT has contributed £13.0 million and TfL has contributed £2.9 million towards the overall spend, with the Council expecting a further £20.2 million from both bodies.
The Capital Strategy, also approved, outlines how capital investment decisions will be made to ensure they are affordable, prudent, and sustainable. All capital investment decisions will be underpinned by a robust business plan setting out expected financial returns and broader outcomes, including economic and social benefits. The strategy emphasizes maximising efficiencies through digital transformation, income generation, corporate accommodation, and agile working practices. It also highlights the importance of regular assurance reporting for major projects and programmes and embedding universal standards for policy and strategy development centred on co-production, high-quality evidence, equity, and climate considerations. Enhancing commercial culture, financial returns, and added value through a refreshed Commercial Strategy, and maximising added value through procurement processes are also key.
Furthermore, the programme incorporates substantial investment in green initiatives, with £30.6 million set aside for Green Investment Projects, Transport Schemes, and emission reduction initiatives to contribute to the borough's net-zero carbon target by 2030. Beyond retrofitting council homes and corporate assets, this allocation includes investment in energy planning and development for district heating networks, providing information and incentives for homeowners and landlords to encourage retrofit, and enforcing Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for landlords. It also encompasses expanding active travel infrastructure and support, and developing one of the densest electric vehicle charging networks in Britain, alongside transitioning the Council's own fleet to low-carbon vehicles. Specific 'Transport Schemes' beyond active travel infrastructure are not detailed.
Further details on the capital programme and strategy can be found in the Four Year Capital Programme 2026-30 and Capital Strategy 2026-27.
