The development under way in Luxborough Street

CONSERVATIVE councillors said they had been forced to “accept the political reality” of Labour’s plan to increase the number of homes available for social rent across the borough.

On Tuesday planning councillors were asked to approve alterations to the development in Luxborough Street, Marylebone, which will see seven flats in the “intermediate” price range replaced with homes for social rent.

Conservative councillors accepted the alterations reluctantly, noting their “regret” for the loss of intermediate homes that are targeted at people who do not qualify for social housing but cannot afford to rent or buy on the open market.

Often these arrangements are called “shared ownership” because they allow people to buy a share of a home and pay rent on the remainder of the property.

Labour councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis told the meeting: “That’s excellent, a huge improvement, very glad to see seven two-bedroom flats available for social rent. Brilliant.”

Her enthusiasm was not echoed by her Conservative members. Cllr Jim Glen said: “I accept the political reality of this is what it’s going to be.

“I also think there is a lack of intermediate compared to social and market in Westminster. However I appreciate this is the council’s new priority, and this is what it’s going to be.”

Maida Vale councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis

And his Conservative colleague Cllr Robert Rigby said it was “unfortunate” to see intermediate homes replaced by social homes. He said: “I can see the reasons why it’s a 50:50 split, although I would have preferred the original but, hey, we are where we are.”

The original plans to build a new housing block on the site of a former children’s playground were signed off in 2020, when Victoria City Hall was led by a Conservative majority.

Permission was granted to build a five-storey building comprising 14 homes at intermediate rent at the time.

However the Labour Party’s victory in the 2022 elections saw the priorities change, with councillors arguing new developments should offer more homes at social rent.

Speaking on behalf of the council on Tuesday night, urban planner Annie Taylor noted the council’s resolution to “provide more genuinely affordable housing throughout Westminster by seeking an uplift in social rented units on existing approved schemes.”

The council now aims to achieve a balance of 70 per cent social rent and 30 per cent intermediate cost housing in new developments, the meeting heard.

The Luxborough scheme falls slightly short of this target with a 50:50 split between social and intermediate homes.

Other amendments under consideration included small changes to the design of the building, as well as replacing gas boilers with air source heat pumps.

Cllr Rigby registered his concern on the technology: “I do think the jury is still out.”

Despite this, councillors unanimously approved the amendments to the scheme.