Commitment 4
Quality homes
To deliver quality and affordable homes for new and existing residents in our communities.
We want to improve the quality, environment and community of our existing residents, while also providing affordable housing for the local area.
Deliver more affordable homes
The need for affordable housing remains high. With over 21,000 households on housing waiting lists across Croydon, Sutton, Bromley and Merton, we must contribute to addressing this need.
We’ve identified possible development sites that we own and hope to begin this programme soon.
Our next step is to commit to a programme of new developments each year to make sure we continue to support local residents finding a home. To meet our current GLA commitment, using funding provided, we need to develop 103 homes. We aim to start work on our first development this year, with completions extending into 2027 and beyond.
We’re committed to building more affordable homes for those who need them most.
Meet Winston AKA JJ Applebee
Review existing homes
Land costs are high, so building new homes isn’t always the best option. We want to review our existing homes to see how we can improve the quality of living for our existing residents. We'll be looking at how we can address issues around space, damp and mould, energy efficiency and how we can improve the overall quality of our homes.
In the first year of the plan, we hope to identify homes suitable for remodelling and then develop this programme in the coming years.
We’d also like to review our older person's service to make sure it meets residents’ needs. In the first year, we’ll survey all residents using this service to find out their future preferences. Analysis and implementation of the results will be done during the remainder of the plan.
Also in the first year, we’ll complete the transition from the current analogue telecare system to a digital one, which will provide better and more reliable support for residents in our older persons accommodation.
Improving standards
We want residents to be proud of where they live. To help us improve the quality of our homes, we’ll review our current design brief to make sure it’s up to date, in keeping with the styles of today and built for longevity. We aim to maintain these homes with affordable and easily accessible materials.
Collaboration is key, and our teams will contribute their knowledge throughout the development process. This ensures our development designs are current and meet the needs of the community for the long term.
We’ll also develop a minimum standard for each scheme so we can maintain the quality of the homes and identify improvements during regular checks. This will also help us set expectations with residents on what they can expect their homes and neighbourhoods to be like.
We’re working towards net zero to create warmer, greener, and more affordable homes.
Net zero
Making our homes energy efficient is a priority for us. Not only does it mean we’re doing our bit to protect the environment, it can help residents save on energy costs while keeping their homes warmer and healthier.
Over 93% of our homes are EPC C or above. In the first year of the plan, we’ll draft a strategy to achieve carbon net zero. We’ll then work on this throughout the business plan period to reach net zero by 2050.