Council U-turns on Cranwood Development

Just a month after the go-ahead was given for a development at Cranwood - the site where potentially corrupt property dealings has led to an external investigation into historic deals - it was revealed that one of the main benefits of the scheme is being dropped.
 
At November’s Cabinet meeting, where the scheme was approved, backbench Labour councillors questioned the administration over rent levels in the new development. At that meeting the Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Ruth Gordon, confirmed that the scheme was being agreed with the understanding that properties built would be let to council tenants at social (also known as formula) rents^[1].
 
However, at the Cabinet meeting in December, it was confirmed after questioning from Cllr Pippa Connor (LD-Muswell Hill), that properties at Cranwood, in addition to many other schemes designed to be let at social rents, will actually be let at a higher level, known as London Affordable Rent.
 
The council leadership said it has to increase rent levels due to fallout from ex-Prime Minister Liz Truss’s ‘mini-budget’, though this took place well before the Cranwood scheme was approved.
 
Cllr Pippa Connor, ward councillor for Muswell Hill, said:
“Given the trust with residents the council has already burned through around the Cranwood site, with allegations of fraud and corruption leading to an external investigation into property deals, you’d expect Haringey to stick 100% to their promises going forwards. Yet now it appears that the assurances Cabinet gave in November meant nothing.
 
“Although residents have had their concerns around this development the one thing they really liked was the homes for social rent. I would ask that the Cabinet re-thinks this new position and brings back social rents to Cranwood.”

Notes:

• ^[1]Statement from Cllr Gordon (42 mins)