Survivors of the fire at Grenfell Tower are to be given homes at the Kensington Row development
The government has acquired 68 new homes from St Edward, a joint venture between Berkeley and insurance firm Prudential, to rehouse survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire.
The homes will be located in the two-block affordable housing part of the scheme which is currently under construction.
However, Berkeley has said it will now fast-track the build to bring forward the completion date to the end of July.
Extra staff have been committed by St Edward and working hour restrictions are to be relaxed so that work can continue around the clock.
The mix of one, two and three bedroom flats were purchased from St Edward for an undisclosed sum and are located 1/5 miles from Grenfell Tower.
Each home will be fully furnished and St Edward will provide liaison staff for each block. Residents will be able to live in the blocks on a permanent basis.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has committed to finding suitable accommodation in the local area for victims who lost their homes in the Grenfell Tower within a maximum of three weeks.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: 鈥淭he residents of Grenfell Tower have been through some of the most harrowing and traumatic experiences imaginable and it is our duty to support them.
鈥淥ur priority is to get everyone who has lost their home permanently rehoused locally as soon as possible, so that they can begin to rebuild their lives.鈥�
鈥淭he government will continue to do everything we can as fast as we can to support those affected by this terrible tragedy.鈥�
Tony Pidgley, chairman of the Berkeley Group, said: 鈥淲e will work night and day to get these homes ready. We鈥檝e got to start by finding each of them a home. Somewhere safe and supportive, close to their friends and the places they know, so they can start to rebuild their lives.鈥�
No comments yet