Wandsworth Council Green-Lights Major £52.3 Million Investment in Borough Projects
Wandsworth Council has officially approved the addition of projects totalling £52.3 million to its capital programme over the next five years. This significant move is set to elevate the Labour-run council's six-year capital programme, which outlines planned investment in Wandsworth from 2025/26 to 2030/31, from £418.3 million to an impressive £470.6 million.
Key Projects and Funding Breakdown
The updated capital programme comprises a committed segment with schemes already in delivery and a development pool for projects yet to commence. Notably, some schemes will require further approval before proceeding. The programme is expected to be financed through a combination of sources:
- Developer contributions: £236 million
- Borrowing: Up to £169.3 million
- Grants and other contributions: £44.8 million
- Capital receipts: £13.3 million
Among the newly added projects, £330,000 has been allocated to the development pool for 2026/27 specifically to refurbish the roof of Pear Tree Café in Battersea Park. Additional allocations include £550,000 to resurface Garratt Park depot and £260,000 for two consecutive years to address flooding issues at Morden Cemetery.
Major Community and Infrastructure Investments
The proposed investment encompasses several high-impact initiatives designed to enhance community facilities and public infrastructure. A substantial £19.5 million is earmarked for a new community building at Portswood Place as part of the Alton Estate regeneration, complementing the £16.7 million already approved for the new Roehampton Community Hub.
Furthermore, an extra £12.5 million has been added to improve leisure facilities, including the installation of two new 3G pitches. An additional £8 million is allocated to enhance highways and public spaces with upgraded safety measures, traffic management systems, lighting, and signage.
The council also proposes £5 million for Disabled Facilities Grants, which assist disabled residents in adapting their homes for independent living, and another £2.9 million for tree planting initiatives across the borough.
Funding Sources and Political Debate
Of the proposed extra £52.3 million investment, £28 million is slated to be funded through borrowing, £7.6 million via grants, £5.1 million from developer contributions, and £2.2 million from the council's reserves. The finance committee green-lit the updated programme on Wednesday, February 18, with the cabinet set to make a final decision on Monday, February 23.
Conservative councillors expressed concerns during the meeting, particularly regarding the council's borrowing plans. Councillor Peter Graham argued, "This is borrowing going into a financial crisis. It’s borrowing for basics… filling potholes. It is borrowing which is going to cost more to repay than the principal sum actually borrowed in the first place. We’re going to end up spending more in debt interest than we are for the actual amount borrowed."
In response, Labour councillors defended the programme as essential, citing decades of underinvestment under the previous Conservative administration, which controlled the authority for 44 years until May 2022. They emphasized that the investment could reduce long-term costs. Councillor Angela Ireland, cabinet member for finance, stated, "It is upsetting that we’ve inherited assets that need a lot of work to bring them up to the standard to do the repairs. We think that’s very important. The borrowing remains affordable. If at any stage it doesn’t then we will adjust our plans accordingly, but we are committed to maintaining the borough in the best way possible."
Council's Vision and Future Outlook
A new report by council officers highlighted the administration's commitment to investing in communities as part of a decade of renewal. The report stated, "As part of a decade of renewal the council is committed to investing in communities. The current administration has committed to delivering a fair, compassionate and more sustainable council and the levels of future capital investment play a key part in supporting these ambitions."
It further added, "This extra investment recognises taking pride in our streets as well as delivering significant improvements to our leisure facilities, investment in our communities and a number of additional schemes to make the borough a more attractive place for many years to come."
The approval of this substantial investment marks a pivotal step in Wandsworth's efforts to enhance local infrastructure, support community development, and address long-standing maintenance issues, setting the stage for a more vibrant and sustainable borough.
