Monday, 1 February 2016

Our first bid!

We submitted our first bid!! Last Thursday, 28th January 2016, we bid to acquire Wells Court, a prominent Victorian housing block in Oriel Place, right in the middle of Hampstead Village.  
Our proposal to Camden is for a community-led, architect designed housing scheme; a subtle conversion of the internal layouts will provide 19 housing units and 2 more will be added in a form of a single story, set-back rooftop extension. 70% of all units will be affordable rental flats for local people and will be held by NW3CLT in perpetuity (see diagram below). On the completion of the build our proposal offers around £2.5m capital receipt to Camden.
Wells Court on Oriel Place is owned by Camden (see photo below). It was used as Sheltered Housing since 1970-s and recently decommissioned, its residents relocated to Henderson Court and elsewhere around the Borough. Camden is selling the building on the open market but making it clear they are not bound to accept the highest, or any offer.
Learning from mistakes and missed opportunities - such as New End Nurses Homes sold by Royal Free Hospital back in 2010 - a sorry tale of successive speculative builders, vociferous local opposition and Camden’s funds lost in an unsuccessful Planing Appeal all resulting in plans for 15 luxury flats with not a single affordable unit (read more: here) - our new but proactive NW3CLT stepped in this time in good time!

Get in touch with us and we will keep you posted about future developments!


clt.nw3@gmail.com



Wells Court, Oriel Place, NW3 as existing