A new temporary housing scheme in South London has been hailed as a "landmark" for supporting homeless families. Wandsworth Council has partnered with London Hotel Group (LHG) to use the 186-room Constitutional House in Tooting as temporary accommodation for six years, a move expected to save the council up to £6 million.
Keeping Families in the Borough
The scheme aims to address the shortage of temporary accommodation, keeping more homeless families within Wandsworth. Currently, nearly half of the temporary units used by the council are located outside the borough. By providing local housing, the initiative seeks to improve outcomes for children and maintain community connections.
Facilities and Amenities
Each unit in the building, situated near Tooting Broadway Underground station, includes a kitchenette and bathroom. The block offers storage units for each family, a learning centre with 25 computers, a faith room, a communal kitchen, an office for council staff, an outdoor play area and garden, laundry facilities, and free Wi-Fi. Repair services, including 24-hour pest control, are also available.
Official Praise
Dave Worth, Wandsworth's Director of Housing Services, described the building as a "landmark development for temporary accommodation in the capital." He noted, "In the 30 years I have been supporting homeless families in London, I have never seen the level of detail and design that has gone into this project. This means we can keep families in our borough, which ensures they can remain connected to their communities, whilst also saving £6m of taxpayers' money over the next six years through this agreement. It demonstrates what is possible with planning and a true partnership."
Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan added, "The development breaks new ground for what is possible in London for temporary accommodation, and I would encourage leaders of all London councils to visit and reconsider what they could achieve in their area."
Background and Savings
The council's Cabinet approved the plans in July last year, and the building opened in February. A report from last July indicated that the move would reduce reliance on nightly paid arrangements, which are more expensive and unpredictable. The council predicted savings of up to £1 million per year by relocating families from costly placements, often outside the borough, to the block.
The number of homeless families in nightly paid accommodation has risen sharply, from 1,439 in May 2023 to 1,605 in May 2024 and 1,737 in May last year. Unit rates for nightly paid accommodation have increased by 29% since April 2023.
Future Plans
Meher Nawab, LHG's Chief Executive, expressed pride in Constitutional House and stated the firm aims to replicate such projects in every London borough within five years. He said, "We wanted to create a new gold standard for temporary accommodation in London and we think we have achieved that."
The council places people in the block and collects their rent, capped at 90% of the 2011 Local Housing Allowance rate for the location.
