Paul Dimoldenberg: ‘it makes no sense’ 

A HOUSING block in Victoria with space for more than 50 homes has lain empty for seven years after a property developer’s plans stalled.

The homes in Castle Lane and Palace Street were bought by Land Securities for £22.5million in 2011 with the aim of providing affordable housing to offset its plan to convert nearby office block Portland House into 206 luxury apartments, which was granted planning permission in 2013. But since then no work has taken place at Portland House.

The council’s planning director, John Walker, told councillors: “The planning consent to upgrade and convert the buildings into new affordable housing was linked to converting Portland House into private residential, but as the market has changed Land Securities have said they no longer intend to implement the scheme. They are therefore reviewing other options for Castle Lane and have said they expect to approach us about alter- native proposals in the autumn.”

A space in the building was briefly used to house long-term rough sleepers.

Labour councillor Paul Dimoldenberg said: “It makes no sense for these homes in the centre of London to remain empty any longer. The council should take immediate action to insist the owners bring forward plans for these empty homes without further delay. These homes have been empty for years and there can be no excuse for further delays.

“Westminster Conservatives have been negligent in allowing these homes to remain empty for so long, when the homes could have been providing temporary accommodation for families who been living in unsatisfactory bed and breakfast accommodation.”

The vacant blocks were originally built in 1882 as workers’ accommodation for the Stag Brewery and were used as a homeless hostel by charity Look Ahead until they were bought by Land Securities.

Daniel Astaire, Westminster’s cabinet member for planning and the public realm, said: “We are encouraging Land Securities to come up with an alternative proposal for use of the properties.

“We will be meeting with them soon to dis- cuss this. The council is committed to delivering 1,850 new affordable homes in Westminster by 2023.”

A Land Securities spokesman said: “As the plans for Portland House were deferred, so were the original plans for Castle Lane. However, the buildings were used to house local charity The Passage temporarily while its own buildings were being refurbished in 2015 and 2016. Land- sec is now actively working on proposals to develop 2-4 Castle Lane independently of Portland House, and will be meeting with Westminster City Council for early discussions on its proposals in the autumn.”

It comes just weeks after the Westminster Extra revealed almost 90 flats on the Ebury Bridge estate are lying empty due to Westminster Council botching a regeneration project.