Khan criticised after allocating just 50 homes on the site for 鈥檆ommunity-led鈥� housing

London mayor Sadiq Khan has selected housing association Catalyst to build out a controversial 934-home scheme on a former hospital site in the capital.

The scheme has been designed by Karakusevic Carson Architects and 6a on the former St Ann鈥檚 hospital site in Tottenham, north London.

London mayor Sadiq Khan

However, the project is controversial because local campaigners claim the Greater London Authority (GLA) bought the site from the NHS on the basis it would support proposals to turn it into an 800-home Community Land Trust.

In the end, just 50 homes have been set aside to be placed into a CLT. While the GLA said this would still make the scheme one of the largest community-led housing schemes in the capital, London Assembly green party member Sian Berry branded the decision 鈥渁 disappointment鈥�.

She said: 鈥淭he Mayor said that St Ann鈥檚 would be an 鈥榚xemplar鈥� of community-led housing 鈥� but we鈥檝e been left with just 50 homes out of more than 900.

鈥淭he community-led plan for St Ann鈥檚, developed by the amazing StART Haringey, originally brought forward plans to make 100 per cent of the homes affordable to the local community.

The GLA said around 60% of the remaining homes will be available at the London Affordable Rent level, with 20% available for shared ownership and 20% at the London Living Rent level.

The Greater London Authority said green space would be central to the design when the scheme is built out, with 10,000 sq m of new tree cover, a playground and a tripling in size of the existing 鈥減eace garden鈥�.

Sadiq Khan (pictured) said: 鈥淢y team and Catalyst are already working closely with the local community to ensure their needs are put at the heart of our plans for St Ann鈥檚.鈥�

Philip Jenkins, group development director at Catalyst said the organisation was committed to making the scheme 鈥渃ommunity led鈥�. He said: 鈥淧lacemaking is at the heart of what we do, and we鈥檒l work closely with the community and key stakeholders to co-create and deliver a truly community-led redevelopment for local people.鈥�

The GLA said a search for the community organisation to take on these homes will be launched early in the new year.

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